绿里奇迹(英文版)-第29部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


nything　…　which　is　one　of　the　things　I　have　always　loved　about　her。　
〃Maybe；〃　I　said。　
〃Is　it　a　good　thing？〃　
〃Maybe；〃　I　repeated。　I　was　standing　there；　still　turning　the　phone's　crank　idly　with　one　finger；　while　I　held　down　the　connecting　points　with　a　finger　of　my　other　hand。　
〃Would　you　like　me　to　leave　you　alone　while　you　use　the　telephone？〃　she　asked。　〃Be　a　good　little　woman　and　butt　out？　Do　some　dishes？　Knit　some　booties？〃　
I　nodded。　〃That's　not　the　way　I'd　put　it；　but…〃　
〃Are　we　having　extras　for　lunch；　Paul？〃　
〃I　hope　so；〃　I　said。　
9。　
I　got　Brutal　and　Dean　right　away；　because　both　of　them　were　on　the　exchange。　Harry　wasn't；　not　then；　at　least；　but　I　had　the　number　of　his　closest　neighbor　who　was。　Harry　called　me　back　about　twenty　minutes　later；　highly　embarrassed　at　having　to　reverse　the　charges　and　sputtering　promises　to　〃pay　his　share〃　when　our　next　bill　came。　I　told　him　we'd　count　those　chickens　when　they　hatched；　in　the　meantime；　could　he　e　over　to　my　place　for　lunch？　Brutal　and　Dean　would　be　here；　and　Janice　had　promised　to　put　out　some　of　her　famous　slaw　。。。　not　to　mention　her　even　more　famous　apple　pie。　
〃Lunch　just　for　the　hell　of　it？〃　Harry　sounded　skeptical。　
I　admitted　I　had　something　I　wanted　to　talk　to　them　about；　but　it　was　best　not　gone　into；　even　lightly；　over　the　phone。　Harry　agreed　to　e。　I　dropped　the　receiver　onto　the　prongs；　went　to　the　window；　and　looked　out　thoughtfully。　Although　we'd　had　the　late　shift；　I　hadn't　wakened　either　Brutal　or　Dean；　and　Harry　hadn't　sounded　like　a　fellow　freshly　turned　out　of　dreamland；　either。　It　seemed　that　I　wasn't　the　only　one　having　problems　with　what　had　happened　last　night；　and　considering　the　craziness　I　had　in　mind；　that　was　probably　good。　
Brutal；　who　lived　closest　to　me；　arrived　at　quarter　past　eleven。　Dean　showed　up　fifteen　minutes　later；　and　Harry　…　already　dressed　for　work　…　about　fifteen　minutes　after　Dean。　Janice　served　us　cold　beef　sandwiches；　slaw；　and　iced　tea　in　the　kitchen。　Only　a　day　before；　we　would　have　had　it　out　on　the　side　porch　and　been　glad　of　a　breeze；　but　the　temperature　had　dropped　a　good　fifteen　degrees　since　the　thunderstorm；　and　a　keen…edged　wind　was　snuffling　down　from　the　ridges。　
〃You're　wele　to　sit　down　with　us；〃　I　told　my　wife。　
She　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　think　I　want　to　know　what　you're　up　to　…　I'll　worry　less　if　I'm　in　the　dark。　I'll　have　a　bite　in　the　parlor。　I'm　visiting　with　Miss　Jane　Austen　this　week；　and　she's　very　good　pany。〃　
〃Who's　Jane　Austen？〃　Harry　asked　when　she　had　left。　〃Your　side　or　Janices's；　Paul？　A　cousin？　Is　she　pretty？〃　
〃She's　a　writer；　you　nit；〃　Brutal　told　him。　〃Been　dead　practically　since　Betsy　Ross　basted　the　stars　on　the　first　flag。〃　
〃Oh。〃　Harry　looked　embarrassed。　〃I'm　not　much　of　a　reader。　Radio　manuals；　mostly。〃　
〃What's　on　your　mind；　Paul？〃　Dean　asked。　
〃John　Coffey　and　Mr。　Jingles；　to　start　with。〃　They　looked　surprised；　which　I　had　expected　…　they'd　been　thinking　I　wanted　to　discuss　either　Delacroix　or　Percy。　Maybe　both。　I　looked　at　Dean　and　Harry　〃The　thing　with　Mr。　Jingles　…　what　Coffey　did　…　happened　pretty　fast。　I　don't　know　if　you　got　there　in　time　to　see　how　broken　up　the　mouse　was　or　not。〃　
Dean　shook　his　head。　〃I　saw　the　blood　on　the　floor；　though。〃　
I　turned　to　Brutal。　
〃That　son　of　a　bitch　Percy　crushed　it；〃　he　said　simply。　〃It　should　have　died；　but　it　didn't。　Coffey　did　something　to　it。　Healed　it　somehow。　I　know　how　that　sounds；　but　I　saw　it　with　my　own　eyes。〃　
I　said：　〃He　healed　me；　as　well；　and　I　didn't　just　see　it；　I　felt　it。〃　I　told　them　about　my　urinary　infection　…　how　it　had　e　back；　how　bad　it　had　been　（I　pointed　through　the　window　at　the　woodpile　I'd　had　to　hold　onto　the　morning　the　pain　drove　me　to　my　knees）；　and　how　it　had　gone　away　pletely　after　Coffey　touched　me。　And　stayed　away。　
It　didn't　take　long　to　tell。　When　I　was　done；　they　sat　and　thought　about　it　awhile；　chewing　on　their　sandwiches　as　they　did。　Then　Dean　said；　〃Black　things　came　out　of　his　mouth。　Like　bugs。〃　
〃That's　right；〃　Harry　agreed。　〃They　were　black　to　start　with；　anyway。　Then　they　turned　white　and　disappeared。〃　He　looked　around；　considering。　〃It's　like　I　damned　near　forgot　the　whole　thing　until　you　brought　it　up；　Paul。　Ain't　that　funny？〃　
〃Nothing　funny　or　strange　about　it；〃　Brutal　said。　〃I　think　that's　what　people　most　always　do　with　the　stuff　they　can't　make　out　…　just　forget　it。　Doesn't　do　a　person　much　good　to　remember　stuff　that　doesn't　make　any　sense。　What　about　it；　Paul？　Were　there　bugs　when　he　fixed　you？〃　
〃Yes。　I　think　they're　the　sickness　。。。　the　pain　。。。　the　hurt。　He　takes　it　in；　then　lets　it　out　into　the　open　air　again。〃　
〃Where　it　dies；〃　Harry　said。　
I　shrugged。　I　didn't　know　if　it　died　or　not；　wasn't　sure　it　even　mattered。　
〃Did　he　suck　it　out　of　you？〃　Brutal　asked。　〃He　looked　like　he　was　sucking　it　right　out　of　the　mouse。　The　hurt。　The　。。。　you　know。　The　death。〃　
〃No；〃　I　said。　〃He　just　touched　me。　And　I　felt　it。　A　kind　of　jolt；　like　electricity　only　not　painful。　But　I　wasn't　dying；　only　hurting。〃　
Brutal　nodded。　〃The　touch　and　the　breath。　Just　like　you　hear　those　backwoods　gospel…shouters　going　on　about。〃　
〃Praise　Jesus；　the　Lord　is　mighty；〃　I　said。　
〃I　dunno　if　Jesus　es　into　it；〃　Brutal　said；　〃but　it　seems　to　me　like　John　Coffey　is　one　mighty　man。〃　
〃All　right；〃　Dean　said。　〃If　you　say　all　this　happened；　I　guess　I　believe　it。　God　works　in　mysterious　ways　His　wonders　to　perform。　But　what's　it　got　to　do　with　us？〃　
Well；　that　was　the　big　question；　wasn't　it？　I　took　in　a　deep　breath　and　told　them　what　I　wanted　to　do。　They　listened；　dumbfounded。　Even　Brutal；　who　liked　to　read　those　magazines　with　the　stories　about　little　green　men　from　space；　looked　dumbfounded。　There　was　a　longer　silence　when　I　finished　this　time；　and　no　one　chewing　any　sandwiches。　
At　last；　in　a　gentle　and　reasonable　voice；　Brutus　Howell　said：　〃We'd　lose　our　jobs　if　we　were　caught；　Paul；　and　we'd　be　very　goddam　lucky　if　that　was　all　that　happened。　We'd　probably　end　up　over　in　A　Block　as　guests　of　the　state；　making　wallets　and　showering　in　pairs。〃　
〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃That　could　happen。〃　
〃I　can　understand　how　you　feel；　a　little；〃　he　went　on。　〃You　know　Moores　better　than　us　…　he's　your　friend　as　well　as　the　big　boss　…　and　I　know　you　think　a　lot　of　his　wife。。。〃　
〃She's　the　sweetest　woman　you　could　ever　hope　to　meet；〃　I　said；　〃and　she　means　the　world　to　him。〃　
〃But　we　don't　know　her　the　way　you　and　Janice　do；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Do　we；　Paul？〃　
〃You'd　like　her　if　you　did；〃　I　said。　〃At　least；　you'd　like　her　if　you'd　met　her　before　this　thing　got　its　claws　into　her。　She　does　a　lot　of　munity　things；　she's　a　good　friend；　and　she's　religious。　More　than　that；　she's　funny。　Used　to　be；　anyway。　She　could　tell　you　things　that'd　make　you　laugh　until　the　tears　rolled　down　your　cheeks。　But　none　of　those　things　are　the　reason　I　want　to　help　save　her；　if　she　can　be　saved。　What's　happening　to　her　is　an　offense；　goddammit；　an　offense。　To　the　eyes　and　the　ears　and　the　heart。〃　
〃Very　noble；　but　I　doubt　like　hell　if　that's　what　put　this　bee　in　your　bon；〃　Brutal　said。　〃I　think　it's　what　happened　to　Del。　You　want　to　balance　it　off　somehow。〃　
And　he　was　right。　Of　course　he　was。　I　knew　Melinda　Moores　better　than　the　others　did；　but　maybe　not；　in　the　end；　well　enough　to　ask　them　to　risk　their　jobs　for　her　…　and　possibly　their　freedom；　as　well。　Or　my　own　job　and　freedom；　for　that　matter。　I　had　two　children；　and　the　last　thing　on　God's　earth　that　I　wanted　my　wife　to　have　to　do　was　to　write　them　the　news　that　their　father　was　going　on　trial　for。。。　well；　what　would　it　be？　I　didn't　know　for　sure。　Aiding　and　abetting　an　escape　attempt　seemed　the　most　likely。　
But　the　death　of　Eduard　Delacroix　had　been　the　ugliest；　foulest　thing　I　had　ever　seen　in　my　life　…　not　just　my　working　life　but　my　whole；　entire　life　…　and　I　had　been　a　party　to　it。　We　had　all　been　a　party　to　it；　because　we　had　allowed　Percy　Wetmore　to　stay　even　after　we　knew　he　was　horribly　unfit　to　work　in　a　place　like　E　Block。　We　had　played　the　game。　Even　Warden　Moores　had　been　a　party　to　it。　〃His　nuts　are　going　to　cook　whether　Wetmore's　on　the　team　or　not；〃　he　had　said；　and　maybe　that　was　well　enough；　considering　what　the　little　Frenchman　had　done；　but　in　the　end　Percy　had　done　a　lot　more　than　cook　Del's　nuts；　he　had　blown　the　little　man's　eyeballs　right　out　of　their　sockets　and　set　his　damned　face　on　fire。　And　why？　Because　Del　was　a　murderer　half　a　dozen　times　over？　No。　Because　Percy　had　wet　his　pants　and　the　little　Cajun　had　had　the　temerity　to　laugh　at　him。　We'd　been　part　of　a　monstrous　act；　and　Percy　was　going　to　get　away　with　it。　Off　to　Briar　Ridge　he　would　go；　happy　as　a　clam　at　high　tide；　and　there　he　would　have　a　whole　asylum　filled　with　lunatics　to　practice　his　cruelties　upon。　There　was　nothing　we　could　do　about　that；　but　perhaps　it　was　not　too　late　to　wash　some　of　the　muck　off　our　own　hands。　
〃In　my　church　they　call　it　atonement　instead　of　balancing；〃　I　said；　〃but　I　guess　it　es　to　the　same　thing。〃　
〃Do　you　really　think　Coffey　could　save　her？〃　Dean　asked　in　a　soft；　awed　voice。　'〃Just　。。。　what？　。。。　suck　that　brain　tumor　out　of　her　head？　Like　it　was　a　。。。　a　peach…pit？〃　
〃I　think　he　could。　It's　not　for　sure；　of　course；　but　after　what　he　did　to　me　。。。　and　to　Mr。　Jingles　。　。　。〃　
〃That　mouse　was　seriously　busted　up；　all　right；〃　Brutal　said。　
〃But　would　he　do　it？〃　Harry　mused。　〃Would　he？〃　
〃If　he　can；　he　will；〃　I　said。　
〃Why？　Coffey　doesn't　even　know　her！〃　
〃Because　it's　what　he　does。　It's　what　God　made　him　for。〃　
Brutal　made　a　show　of　looking　around；　reminding　us　all　that　someone　was　missing。　〃What　about　Percy？　You　think　he's　just　gonna　let　this　go　down？〃　he　asked；　and　so　I　told　them　what　I　had　in　mind　for　Percy　By　the　time　I　finished；　Harry　and　Dean　were　looking　at　me　in　amazement；　and　a　reluctant　grin　of　admiration　had　dawned　on　Brutal's　face。　
〃Pretty　audacious；　Brother　Paul！〃　he　said。　〃Fair　takes　my　breath　away！〃　
〃But　wouldn't　it　be　the　bee's　knees！〃　Dean　almost　whispered；　then　laughed　aloud　and　clapped　his　hands　like　a　child。　〃I　mean；　voh…doh…dee…oh…doh　and　twenty…three…skidoo！〃　You　want　to　remember　that　Dean　had　a　special　interest　in　the　part　of　my　plan　that　involved　Percy　…　Percy　…　Percy　could　have　gotten　Dean　killed；　after　all；　freezing　up　the　way　he　had。　
〃Yeah；　but　what　about　after？〃　Harry　said。　He　sounded　gloomy；　but　his　eyes　gave　him　away；　they　were　sparkling；　the　eyes　of　a　man　who　wants　to　be　convinced。　〃What　then？〃　
〃They　say　dead　men　tell　no　tales；〃　Brutal　rumbled；　and　I　took　a　quick　look　at　him　to　make　sure　he　was　joking。　
〃I　think　he'll　keep　his　mouth　shut；〃　I　said。　
〃Really？〃　Dean　looked　skeptical。　He　took　off　his　glasses　and　began　to　polish　them。　〃Convince　me。〃　
〃First；　he　won't　know　what　really　happened　…　he's　going　to　judge　us　by　himself　and　think　it　was　just　a　prank。　Second　…　and　more　important　…　he'll　be　afraid　to　say　anything。　That's　what　I'm　really　counting　on。　We　tell　him　that　if　he　starts　writing　letters　and　making　phone　calls；　we　start　writing　letters　and　making　phone　calls。〃　
〃About　the　execution；〃　Harry　said。　
〃And　about　the　way　he　froze　when　Wharton　attacked　Dean；〃　Brutal　said。　〃I　think　people　finding　out　about　that　is　what　Percy　Wetmore's　really　afraid　of。〃　He　nodded　slowly　and　thoughtfully。　〃It　could　work。　But　Paul。。。　wouldn't　it　make　more　sense　to　bring　Mrs。　Moores　to　Coffey　than　Coffey　to　Mrs。　Moores？　We　could　take　care　of　Percy　pretty　much　the　way　you　laid　it　out；　then　bring　her　in　through　the　tunnel　instead　of　taking　Coffey　out　that　way。〃　
I　shook　my　head。　〃Never　happen。　Not　in　a　million　years。〃　
〃Because　of　Warden　Moores？〃　
〃Mat's　right。　He's　so　hardheaded　he　makes　old　Doubting　Thomas　look　like　Joan　of　Arc。　If　we　bring　Coffey　to　his　house；　I　think　we　can　surprise　him　into　at　least　letting　Coffey　make　the　try。　Otherwise。。。〃　
〃What　were　you　thinking　about　using　for　a　vehicle？〃　Brutal　asked。　
〃My　first　thought　was　the　stagecoach；〃　I　said；　〃but　we'd　never　get　it　out　of　the　yard　without　being　noticed；　and　everyone　within　a　twenty…mile　radius　knows　what　it　looks　like；　anyway。　I　guess　maybe　we　can　use　my　Ford。〃　
〃Guess　again；〃　Dean　said；　popping　his　specs　back　onto　his　nose。　〃You　couldn't　get　John　Coffey　into　your　car　if　you　stripped　him　naked；　covered　him　with　lard；　and　used　a　shoehorn。　You're　so　used　to　looking　at　him　that　you've　forgotten　how　big　he　is。〃　
I　had　no　reply　to　that。　Most　of　my　attention　that　morning　had　been　focused　on　the　problem　of　Percy　…　and　the　lesser　but　not　inconsiderable　problem　of　Wild　Bill　Wharton。　Now　I　realized　that　transportation　wasn't　going　to　be　as　simple　as　I　had　hoped。　
Harry　Terwilliger　picked　up　the　remains　of　his　second　sandwich；　looked　at　it　for　a　second；　then　put　it　down　again。　〃If　we　was　to　actually　do　this　crazy　thing；〃　he　said；　〃I　guess　we　could　use　my　pickup　truck。　Sit　him　in　the　back　of　that。　Wouldn't　be　nobody　much　on　the　roads　at　that　hour。　We're　talking　about　well　after　midnight；　ain't　we？〃　
〃Yes；〃　I　said。　
〃You　guys're　forgetting　one　thing；〃　Dean　said。　〃I　know　Coffey's　been　pretty　quiet　ever　since　he　came　on　the　block；　doesn't　do　much　but　lay　there　on　his　bunk　and　leak　from　the　eyes；　but　he's　a　murderer。　Also；　he's　huge。　If　he　decided　he　wanted　to　escape　out　of　the　back　of　Harry's　truck；　the　only　way　we　could　stop　him　would　be　to　shoot　him　dead。　And　a　guy　like　that　would　take　a　lot　of　killing；　even　with　a　。45。　Suppose　we　weren't　able　to　put　him　down？　And　suppose　he　killed　someone　else？　I'd　hate　losing　my　job；　and　I'd　hate　going　to　jail　…　I　got　a　wife　and　kids　depending　on　me　to　put　bread　in　their　mouths　…　but　I　don't　think　I'd　hate　either　of　those　things　near　as　much　as　having　another　dead　little　girl　on　my　conscience。〃　
〃That　won't　happen；〃　I　said。　
〃How　in　God's　name　can　you　be　so　sure　of　that？〃　
I　didn't　answer。　I　didn't　know　just　how　to　begin。　I　had　known　this　would　e　up；　of　course　I　did；　but　I　still　didn't　know　how　to　start　telling　them　what　I　knew。　Brutal　helped　me。　
〃You　don't　think　he　did　it；　do　you；　Paul？〃　He　looked　incredulous。　〃You　think　that　big　lug　is　innocent。〃　
〃I'm　positive　he's　innocent；〃　I　said。　
〃How　in　the　name　of　Jesus　can　you　be？〃　
〃There　are　two　things；〃　I　said。　〃One　of　them　is　my　shoe。〃　I　leaned　forward　over　the　table　and　began　talking。　


Part　Five：
Night　Journey　
1。　
Mr。　H。　G。　Wells　once　wrote　a　story　about　a　man　who　invented　a　time　machine；　and　I　have　discovered　that；　in　the　writing　of　these　memoirs；　I　have　created　my　own　time　machine。　Unlike　Wells's；　it　can　only　travel　into　the　past　…　back　to　1932；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　when　I　was　the　bull…goose　screw　in　E　Block　of　Cold　Mountain　State　Penitentiary　…　but　it's　eerily　efficient；　for　all　that。　Still；　this　time　machine　reminds　me　of　the　old　Ford　I　had　in　those　days：　you　could　be　sure　that　it　would　start　eventually；　but　you　never　knew　if　a　turn　of　the　key　would　be　enough　to　fire　the　motor；　or　if　you　were　going　to　have　to　get　out　and　crank　until　your　arm　practically　fell　off。　
I've　had　a　lot　of　easy　starts　since　I　started　telling　the　story　of　John　Coffey；　but　yesterday　I　had　to　crank。　I　think　it　was　because　I'd　gotten　to　Delacroix's　execution；　and　part　of　my　mind　didn't　want　to　have　to　relive　that。　It　was　a　bad　death；　a　terrible　death；　and　it　happened　the　way　it　did　because　of　Percy　Wetmore；　a　young　man　who　loved　to　b　his　hair