绿里奇迹(英文版)-第52部分

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〃And　the　dragon's　been　vanquished；〃　I　said。　〃This　time　by　the　lady　fair。〃　
She　smiled；　bent；　and　kissed　me　over　the　eyebrow　in　the　sensitive　place　that　always　makes　me　shiver。　〃We'll　hope　so；〃　she　said；　〃but　in　my　experience；　dragons　like　Brad　Dolan　are　hard　to　get　rid　of。〃　She　hesitated。　〃Good　luck；　Paul。　I　hope　you　can　vanquish　whatever　it　is　that　has　been　festering　in　you。〃　
〃I　hope　so；　too；〃　I　said；　and　thought　of　John　Coffey。　I　couldn't　help　it；　John　had　said。　I　tried；　but　it　was　too　late。　
I　ate　the　eggs　she'd　brought；　drank　the　juice；　and　pushed　the　toast　aside　for　later。　Then　I　picked　up　my　pen　and　began　to　write　again；　for　what　I　hoped　would　be　the　last　time。　
One　last　mile。　
A　green　one。　
2。　
When　we　brought　John　back　to　E　Block　that　night；　the　gurney　was　a　necessity　instead　of　a　luxury。　I　very　much　doubt　if　he　could　have　made　it　the　length　of　the　tunnel　on　his　own；　it　takes　more　energy　to　walk　at　a　crouch　than　it　does　upright；　and　it　was　a　damned　low　ceiling　for　the　likes　of　John　Coffey。　I　didn't　like　to　think　of　him　collapsing　down　
there。　How　would　we　explain　that；　on　top　of　trying　to　explain　why　we　had　dressed　Percy　in　the　madman's　dinner…jacket　and　tossed　him　in　the　restraint　room？　
But　we　had　the　gurney　…　thank　God　…　and　John　Coffey　lay　on　it　like　a　beached　whale　as　we　pushed　him　back　to　the　storage…room　stairs。　He　got　down　off　it；　staggered；　then　simply　stood　with　his　head　lowered；　breathing　harshly。　His　skin　was　so　gray　he　looked　as　if　he'd　been　rolled　in　flour。　I　thought　he'd　be　in　the　infirmary　by　noon　。。。　if　he　wasn't　dead　by　noon；　that　was。　
Brutal　gave　me　a　grim；　desperate　look。　I　gave　it　right　back。　〃We　can't　carry　him　up；　but　we　can　help　him；〃　I　said。　〃You　under　his　right　arm；　me　under　his　left。〃　
〃What　about　me？〃　Harry　asked。　
〃Walk　behind　us。　If　he　looks　like　going　over　backward；　shove　him　forward　again。〃　
〃And　if　that　don't　work；　kinda　crouch　down　where　you　think　he's　gonna　land　and　soften　the　blow；〃　Brutal　said。　
〃Gosh；〃　Harry　said　thinly；　〃you　oughta　go　on　the　Orpheum　Circuit；　Brute；　that's　how　funny　you　are。〃　
〃I　got　a　sense　of　humor；　all　right；〃　Brutal　admitted。　
In　the　end；　we　did　manage　to　get　John　up　the　stairs。　My　biggest　worry　was　that　he　might　faint；　but　he　didn't。　〃Go　around　me　and　check　to　make　sure　the　storage　room's　empty；〃　I　gasped　to　Harry。　
〃What　should　I　say　if　it's　not？〃　Harry　asked；　squeezing　under　my　arm。　〃Avon　calling；；　and　then　pop　back　in　here？〃　
〃Don't　be　a　Wisenheimer；〃　Brutal　said。　
Harry　eased　the　door　open　a　little　way　and　poked　his　head　through。　It　seemed　to　me　that　he　stayed　that　way　for　a　very　long　time。　At　last　he　pulled　back；　looking　almost　cheerful。　〃Coast's　clear。　And　it's　quiet。〃　
〃Let's　hope　it　stays　that　way；〃　Brutal　said。　〃e　on；　John　Coffey；　almost　home。〃　
He　was　able　to　cross　the　storage　room　under　his　own　power；　but　we　had　to　help　him　up　the　three　steps　to　my　office　and　then　almost　push　him　through　the　little　door。　When　he　got　to　his　feet　again；　he　was　breathing　stertorously；　and　his　eyes　had　a　glassy　sheen。　Also　…　I　noticed　this　with　real　horror　…　the　right　side　of　his　mouth　had　pulled　down；　making　it　look　like　Melinda's　had；　when　we　walked　into　her　room　and　saw　her　propped　up　on　her　pillows。　
Dean　heard　us　and　came　in　from　the　desk　at　the　head　of　the　Green　Mile。　〃Thank　God！　I　thought　you　were　never　ing　back；　I'd　half　made　up　my　mind　you　were　caught；　or　the　Warden　plugged　you；　or…〃　He　broke　off；　really　seeing　John　for　the　first　time。　〃Holy　cats；　what's　wrong　with　him？　He　looks　like　he's　dying！〃　
〃He's　not　dying　。。。　are　you；　John　？〃　Brutal　said。　His　eyes　flashed　Dean　a　warning。　
〃Course　not；　I　didn't　mean　actually　dyin〃　…　Dean　gave　a　nervous　little　laugh　…　〃but；　jeepers　。　。〃　
〃Never　mind；〃　I　said。　〃Help　us　get　him　back　to　his　cell。〃　
Once　again　we　were　foothills　surrounding　a　mountain；　but　now　it　was　a　mountain　that　had　suffered　a　few　million　years；　worth　of　erosion；　one　that　was　blunted　and　sad。　John　Coffey　moved　slowly；　breathing　through　his　mouth　like　an　old　man　who　smoked　too　much；　but　at　least　he　moved。　
〃What　about　Percy？〃　I　asked。　〃Has　he　been　kicking　up　a　ruckus？〃　
〃Some　at　the　start；〃　Dean　said。　〃Trying　to　yell　through　the　tape　you　put　over　his　mouth。　Cursing；　I　believe。〃　
〃Mercy　me；〃　Brutal　said。　〃A　good　thing　our　tender　ears　were　elsewhere。〃　
〃Since　then；　just　a　mulekick　at　the　door　every　once　in　awhile；　you　know。〃　Dean　was　so　relieved　to　see　us　that　he　was　babbling。　His　glasses　slipped　down　to　the　end　of　his　nose；　which　was　shiny　with　sweat；　and　he　pushed　them　back　up。　We　passed　Wharton's　cell。　That　worthless　young　man　was　flat　on　his　back；　snoring　like　a　sousaphone。　His　eyes　were　shut　this　time；　all　right。　
Dean　saw　me　looking　and　laughed。　
〃No　trouble　from　that　guy！　Hasn't　moved　since　he　laid　back　down　on　his　bunk。　Dead　to　the　world。　As　for　Percy　kicking　the　door　every　now　and　then；　I　never　minded　that　a　bit。　Was　glad　of　it；　tell　you　the　truth。　If　he　didn't　make　any　noise　at　all；　I'd　start　wonderin　if　he　hadn't　choked　to　death　on　that　gag　you　slapped　over　his　cakehole。　But　that's　not　the　best。　You　know　the　best？　It's　been　as　quiet　as　Ash　Wednesday　morning　in　New　Orleans！　Nobody's　been　down　all　night！〃　He　said　this　last　in　a　triumphant；　gloating　voice。　〃We　got　away　with　it；　boys！　We　did！〃　
That　made　him　think　of　why　we'd　gone　through　the　whole　edy　in　the　first　place；　and　he　asked　about　Melinda。　
〃She's　fine；〃　I　said。　We　had　reached　John　's　cell。　What　Dean　had　said　was　just　starting　to　sink　in：　We　got　away　with　it；　boys　。。。　we　did。　
〃Was　it　like　。。。　you　know　。。。　the　mouse？〃　Dear　asked。　He　glanced　briefly　at　the　empty　cell　when　Delacroix　had　lived　with　Mr。　Jingles；　then　down　a　the　restraint　room；　which　had　been　the　mouse's　seeming　point　of　origin。　His　voice　dropped；　the　way　people's　voices　do　when　they　enter　a　big　church　where　even　the　silence　seems　to　whisper。　〃Was　it　a。。。〃　He　gulped。　〃Shoot；　you　know　what　I　mean　…　was　it　a　miracle？〃　
The　three　of　us　looked　at　each　other　briefly；　confirming　what　we　already　knew。　〃Brought　her　back　from　her　damn　grave　is　what　he　did；〃　Harry　said。　〃Yeah；　it　was　a　miracle；　all　right。〃　
Brutal　opened　the　double　locks　on　the　cell；　and　gave　John　a　gentle　push　inside。　〃Go　on；　now；　big　boy。　Rest　awhile。　You　earned　it。　We'll　just　settle　Percy's　hash〃　
〃He's　a　bad　man；〃　John　said　in　a　low；　mechanical　voice。　
〃That's　right；　no　doubt；　wicked　as　a　warlock；〃　Brutal　agreed　in　his　most　soothing　voice；　〃but　don't　you　worry　a　smidge　about　him；　we're　not　going　to　let　him　near　you。　You　just　ease　down　on　that　bunk　of　yours　and　I'll　have　that　cup　of　coffee　to　you　in　no　time。　Hot　and　strong。　You'll　feel　like　a　new　man。〃　
John　sat　heavily　on　his　bunk。　I　thought　he'd　fall　back　on　it　and　roll　to　the　wall　as　he　usually　did；　but　he　just　sat　there　for　the　time　being；　hands　clasped　loosely　between　his　knees；　head　lowered；　breathing　hard　through　his　mouth。　The　St。　Christopher's　medal　Melinda　had　given　him　had　fallen　out　of　the　top　of　his　shirt　and　swung　back　and　forth　in　the　air。　He'll　keep　you　safe；　that's　what　she'd　told　him；　but　John　Coffey　didn't　look　a　bit　safe。　He　looked　like　he　had　taken　Melinda's　place　on　the　lip　of　that　grave　Harry　had　spoken　of。　
But　I　couldn't　think　about　John　Coffey　just　then　I　turned　around　to　the　others。　〃Dean；　get　Percy's　pistol　and　hickory　stick。〃　
〃Okay。〃　He　went　back　up　to　the　desk；　unlocked　the　drawer　with　the　gun　and　the　stick　in　it；　and　brought　them　back。　
〃Ready？〃　I　asked　them。　My　men　…　good　men；　and　was　never　prouder　of　them　than　I　was　that　night；　nodded。　Harry　and　Dean　both　looked　nervous；　Brutal　as　stolid　as　ever。　〃Okay。　I'm　going　to　do　the　talking。　The　less　the　rest　of　you　open　your　mouths；　the　better　it'll　probably　be　and　the　quicker　it'll　probably　wrap　up　。。。　for　better　or　worse。　Okay？〃　
They　nodded　again。　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　walked　down　to　the　Green　Mile　restraint　room。　
Percy　looked　up；　squinting；　when　the　light　fell　on　him。　He　was　sitting　on　the　floor　and　licking　at　the　tape　I　had　slapped　across　his　mouth。　The　part　I'd　wound　around　to　the　back　of　his　head　had　e　free　（probably　the　sweat　and　brilliantine　in　his　hair　had　loosened　it）；　and　he'd　gotten　a　ways　toward　getting　the　rest　off；　as　well。　Another　hour　and　he　would've　been　bawling　for　help　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。　
He　used　his　feet　to　shove　himself　a　little　way　backward　when　we　came　in；　then　stopped；　no　doubt　realizing　that　there　was　nowhere　to　go　except　for　the　southeast　corner　of　the　room。　
I　took　his　gun　and　stick　from　Dean　and　held　them　out　in　Percy's　direction。　〃Want　these　back？〃　I　asked。　
He　looked　at　me　warily；　then　nodded　his　head。　
〃Brutal；〃　I　said。　〃Harry。　Get　him　on　his　feet。〃　
They　bent；　hooked　him　under　the　canvas　arms　of　the　straitjacket；　and　up　he　came。　I　moved　toward　him　until　we　were　almost　nose　to　nose。　I　could　smell　the　sour　sweat　in　which　he'd　been　basting。　Some　of　it　probably　came　from　his　efforts　to　get　free　of　the　quiet…down　coat；　or　to　administer　the　occasional　kicks　to　the　door　Dean　had　heard；　but　I　thought　most　of　his　sweat　had　e　as　a　result　of　plain　old　fear：　fear　of　what　we　might　do　to　him　when　we　came　back。　
I'll　be　okay；　they　ain't　killers；　Percy　would　think。。。　and　then；　maybe；　he'd　think　of　Old　Sparky　and　it　would　cross　his　mind　that　yes；　in　a　way　we　were　killers。　I'd　done　seventy…seven　myself；　more　than　any　of　the　men　I'd　ever　put　the　chest…strap　on；　more　than　Sergeant　York　himself　got　credit　for　in　World　War　I。　Killing　Percy　wouldn't　be　logical；　but　we'd　already　behaved　illogically；　he　would　have　told　himself　as　he　sat　there　with　his　arms　behind　him；　working　with　his　tongue　to　get　the　tape　off　his　mouth。　And　besides；　logic　most　likely　doesn't　have　much　power　over　a　person's　thoughts　when　that　person　is　sitting　on　the　floor　of　a　room　with　soft　walls；　wrapped　up　as　neat　and　tight　as　any　spider　ever　wrapped　a　fly。　
Which　is　to　say；　if　I　didn't　have　him　where　I　wanted　now；　I　never　would。　
〃I'll　take　the　tape　off　your　mouth　if　you　promise　not　to　start　yowling；〃　I　said。　〃I　want　to　have　a　talk　with　you；　not　a　shouting　match。　So　what　do　you　say？　Will　you　be　quiet？〃　
I　saw　relief　e　up　in　his　eyes　as　he　realized　that；　if　I　wanted　to　talk；　he　really　did　stand　a　good　chance　of　getting　out　of　this　with　a　whole　skin。　He　nodded　his　head。　
〃If　you　start　noising　off；　the　tape　goes　back　on；〃　I　said。　〃Do　you　understand　that；　too？〃　
Another　nod；　rather　impatient　this　time。　
I　reached　up；　grabbed　the　end　of　the　runner　he'd　worked　loose；　and　gave　it　a　hard　yank。　It　made　a　loud　peeling　sound。　Brutal　winced。　Percy　yipped　with　pain　and　began　rubbing　his　lips。　He　tried　to　speak；　realized　he　couldn't　do　it　with　a　hand　over　his　mouth；　and　lowered　it。　
〃Get　me　out　of　this　nut…coat；　you　lugoon；〃　he　spat。　
〃In　a　minute；〃　I　said。　
〃Now！　Now！　Right　n…〃　
I　slapped　his　face。　It　was　done　before　I'd　even　known　I　was　going　to　do　it　。。。　but　of　course　I'd　known　it　might　e　to　that。　Even　back　during　the　first　talk　about　Percy　that　I'd　had　with　Warden　Moores；　the　one　where　Hal　advised　me　to　put　Percy　out　for　the　Delacroix　execution；　I'd　known　it　might　e　to　that。　A　man's　hand　is　like　an　animal　that's　only　half…tame；　mostly　it's　good；　but　sometimes　it　escapes　and　bites　the　first　thing　it　sees。　
The　sound　was　a　sharp　snap；　like　a　breaking　branch。　Dea