绿里奇迹(英文版)-第31部分

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ure　someone　had　showed　him　how　to　do　it　when　he　was　a　lad　…　maybe　his　father　or　maybe　one　of　the　boyfriends　his　mother　had　after　the　father　was　gone　…　but　he'd　forgot　the　knack。〃　
〃I'm　with　Brutal　…　I　still　don't　see　what　your　shoe　has　to　do　with　whether　or　not　Coffey　killed　the　Detterick　twins；〃　Dean　said。　
So　I　went　over　the　story　of　the　abduction　and　murder　again　…　what　I'd　read　that　hot　day　in　the　prison　library　with　my　groin　sizzling　and　Gibbons　snoring　in　the　er；　and　all　that　the　reporter；　Hammersmith；　told　me　later。　
〃The　Dettericks'　dog　wasn't　much　of　a　biter；　but　it　was　a　world…class　barker；〃　I　said。　〃The　man　who　took　the　girls　kept　it　quiet　by　feeding　it　sausages。　He　crept　a　little　closer　every　time　he　gave　it　one；　I　imagine；　and　while　the　mutt　was　eating　the　last　one；　he　reached　out；　grabbed　it　by　the　head；　and　twisted。　Broke　its　neck。　
〃Later；　when　they　caught　up　with　Coffey；　the　deputy　in　charge　of　the　posse　…　Rob　McGee；　his　name　was…spotted　a　bulge　in　the　chest　pocket　of　the　biballs　Coffey　was　wearing。　McGee　thought　at　first　it　might　be　a　gun。　Coffey　said　it　was　a　lunch；　and　that's　what　it　turned　out　to　be　…　a　couple　of　sandwiches　and　a　pickle；　wrapped　up　in　newspaper　and　tied　with　butcher's　string。　Coffey　couldn't　remember　who　gave　it　to　him；　only　that　it　was　a　woman　wearing　an　apron。…〃　
〃Sandwiches　and　a　pickle　but　no　sausages；〃　Brutal　said。　
〃No　sausages；〃　I　agreed。　
〃Course　not；〃　Dean　said。　〃He　fed　those　to　the　dog。〃　
〃Well；　that's　what　the　prosecutor　said　at　the　trial；〃　I　agreed；　〃but　if　Coffey　opened　his　lunch　and　fed　the　sausages　to　the　dog；　how'd　he　tie　the　newspaper　back　up　again　with　that　butcher's　twine？　I　don't　know　when　he　even　would　have　had　the　chance；　but　leave　that　out　of　it；　for　the　time　being。　This　man　can't　even　tie　a　simple　granny　knot！〃　
There　was　a　long　moment　of　thunderstruck　silence；　broken　at　last　by　Brutus。　〃Holy　shit；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃How　e　no　one　brought　that　up　at　the　trial？〃　
〃Nobody　thought　of　it；〃　I　said；　and　found　myself　again　thinking　of　Hammersmith；　the　reporter　…　Hammersmith　who　had　been　to　college　in　Bowling　Green；　Hammersmith　who　liked　to　think　of　himself　as　enlightened；　Hammersmith　who　had　told　me　that　mongrel　dogs　and　Negroes　were　about　the　same；　that　either　might　take　a　chomp　out　of　you　suddenly；　and　for　no　reason。　Except　he　kept　calling　them　your　Negroes；　as　if　they　were　still　property　。。。　but　not　his　property。　No；　not　his。　Never　his。　And　at　that　time；　the　South　was　full　of　Hammersmiths。　…　Nobody　was　really　equipped　to　think　of　it；　Coffey's　own　attorney　included。〃　
〃But　you　did；〃　Harry　said。　〃Goddam；　boys；　we're　sittin　here　with　Mr。　Sherlock　Holmes。〃　He　sounded　simultaneously　joshing　and　awed。　
〃Oh；　put　a　cork　in　it；〃　I　said。　〃I　wouldn't　have　thought　of　it　either；　if　I　hadn't　put　together　what　he　told　Deputy　McGee　that　day　with　what　he　said　after　he　cured　my　infection；　and　what　he　said　after　he　healed　the　mouse。〃　
〃What？〃　Dean　asked。　
〃When　I　went　into　his　cell；　it　was　like　I　was　hypnotized。　I　didn't　feel　like　I　could　have　stopped　doing　what　he　wanted；　even　if　I'd　tried。〃　
〃I　don't　like　the　sound　of　that；〃　Harry　said；　and　shifted　uneasily　in　his　seat。　
〃I　asked　him　what　he　wanted；　and　he　said　'Just　to　help。'　I　remember　that　very　clearly。　And　when　it　was　over　and　I　was　better；　he　knew。　'I　helped　it；'　he　said。　'I　helped　it；　didn't　I？；　〃　
Brutal　was　nodding。　〃Just　like　with　the　mouse。　You　said　'You　helped　it；'　and　Coffey　said　it　back　to　you　like　he　was　a　parrot。　'I　helped　Del's　mouse。'　Is　that　when　you　knew？　It　was；　wasn't　it？。〃　
〃Yeah；　I　guess　so。　I　remembered　what　he　said　to　McGee　when　McGee　asked　him　what　had　happened。　It　was　in　every　story　about　the　murders；　just　about。　'I　couldn't　help　it。　I　tried　to　take　it　back；　but　it　was　too　late。'　A　man　saying　a　thing　like　that　with　two　little　dead　girls　in　his　arms；　them　white　and　blonde；　him　as　big　as　a　house；　no　wonder　they　got　it　wrong。　They　heard　what　he　was　saying　in　a　way　that　would　agree　with　what　they　were　seeing；　and　what　they　were　seeing　was　black。　They　thought　he　was　confessing；　that　he　was　saying　he'd　had　a　pulsion　to　take　those　girls；　rape　them；　and　kill　them。　That　he'd　e　to　his　senses　and　tried　to　stop。　
〃But　by　then　it　was　too　late；〃　Brutal　murmured　
〃Yes。　Except　what　he　was　really　trying　to　tell　them　was　that　he'd　found　them；　tried　to　heal　them　…　to　bring　them　back　…　and　had　no　success。　They　were　too　far　gone　in　death。〃　
〃Paul；　do　you　believe　that？〃　Dean　asked。　〃Do　you　really；　honest…to…God　believe　that？〃　
I　examined　my　heart　as　well　as　I　could　one　final　time；　then　nodded　my　head。　Not　only　did　I　know　it　now；　there　was　an　intuitive　part　of　me　that　had　known　something　wasn't　right　with　John　Coffey's　situation　from　the　very　beginning；　when　Percy　had　e　onto　the　block　hauling　on　Coffey's　arm　and　blaring　〃Dead　man　walking！　…　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。　I　had　shaken　hands　with　him；　hadn't　I？　I　had　never　shaken　the　hand　of　a　man　ing　on　the　Green　Mile　before；　but　I　had　shaken　Coffey's。　
〃Jesus；〃　Dean　said。　〃Good　Jesus　Christ。〃　
〃Your　shoe's　one　thing；〃　Harry　said。　〃What's　the　other？〃　
〃Not　long　before　the　posse　found　Coffey　and　the　girls；　the　men　came　out　of　the　woods　near　the　south　bank　of　the　Trapingus　River。　They　found　a　patch　of　flattened…down　grass　there；　a　lot　of　blood；　and　the　rest　of　Cora　Detterick's　nightie。　The　dogs　got　confused　for　a　bit。　Most　wanted　to　go　southeast；　downstream　along　the　bank。　But　two　of　them…the　coon…dogs　…　wanted　to　go　upstream。　〃Bobo　Marchant　was　running　the　dogs；　and　when　he　save　the　coonies　a　sniff　of　the　nightgown；　they　turned　with　the　others。〃　
〃The　coonies　got　mixed　up；　didn't　they？〃　Brutal　asked。　A　strange；　sickened　little　smile　was　playing　around　the　corners　of　his　mouth。　〃They　ain't　built　to　be　trackers；　strictly　speaking　；　and　they　got　mixed　up　on　what　their　job　was。〃　
'Yes。　
〃I　don't　get　it；〃　Dean　said。　
〃The　coonies　forgot　whatever　it　was　Bobo　ran　under　their　noses　to　get　them　started；〃　Brutal　said。　〃By　the　time　they　came　out　on　the　riverbank；　the　coonies　were　tracking　the　killer；　not　the　girls。　That　wasn't　a　problem　as　long　as　the　killer　and　the　girls　were　together；　but　。。。〃　
The　light　was　dawning　in　Dean's　eyes。　Harry　had　already　gotten　it。　
〃When　you　think　about　it；〃　I　said；　〃you　wonder　how　anybody；　even　a　jury　wanting　to　pin　the　crime　on　a　wandering　black　fellow；　could　have　believed　John　Coffey　was　their　man　for　even　a　minute。　Just　the　idea　of　keeping　the　dog　quiet　with　food　until　he　could　snap　its　neck　would　have　been　beyond　Coffey。　
〃He　was　never　any　closer　to　the　Detterick　farm　than　the　south　bank　of　the　Trapingus；　that's　what　I　think。　Six　or　more　miles　away。　He　was　just　mooning　along；　maybe　meaning　to　go　down　to　the　railroad　tracks　and　catch　a　freight　to　somewhere　else…when　they　e　off　the　trestle；　they're　going　slow　enough　to　hop…when　he　heard　a　motion　to　the　north。〃　
〃The　killer？〃　Brutal　asked。　
〃The　killer。　He　might　have　raped　them　already；　or　maybe　the　rape　was　what　Coffey　heard。　In　any　case；　that　bloody　patch　in　the　grass　was　where　the　killer　finished　the　business；　dashed　their　heads　together；　dropped　them；　and　then　hightailed　it。〃　
〃Hightailed　it　northwest；〃　Brutal　said。　〃The　direction　the　coon…dogs　wanted　to　go。〃　
〃Right。　John　Coffey　es　through　a　stand　of　alders　that　grows　a　little　way　southeast　of　the　spot　where　the　girls　were　left；　probably　curious　about　all　the　noise；　and　he　finds　their　bodies。　One　of　them　might　still　have　been　alive；　I　suppose　it's　possible　both　of　them　were；　although　not　for　much　longer。　John　Coffey　wouldn't　have　known　if　they　were　dead；　that's　for　sure。　All　he　knows　is　that　he's　got　a　healing　power　in　his　hands；　and　he　tried　to　use　it　on　Cora　and　Kathe　Detterick。　When　it　didn't　work；　he　broke　down；　crying　and　hysterical。　Which　is　how　they　found　him。〃　
〃Why　didn't　he　stay　there；　where　he　found　them？〃　Brutal　asked。　〃Why　take　them　south　along　the　riverbank？　Any　idea？〃　
〃I　bet　he　did　stay　put；　at　first；〃　I　said。　〃At　the　trial；　they　kept　talking　about　a　big　trampled　area；　all　the　grass　squashed　flat。　And　John　Coffey's　a　big　man。〃　
〃John　Coffey's　a　fucking　giant；〃　Harry　said；　pitching　his　voice　very　low　so　my　wife　wouldn't　hear　him　cuss　if　she　happened　to　be　listening。　
〃Maybe　he　panicked　when　he　saw　that　what　he　was　doing　wasn't　working。　Or　maybe　he　got　the　idea　that　the　killer　was　still　there；　in　the　woods　upstream；　watching　him。　Coffey's　big；　you　know；　but　not　real　brave。　Harry；　remember　him　asking　if　we　left　a　light　on　in　the　block　after　bedtime？〃　
〃Yeah。　I　remember　thinking　how　funny　that　was；　what　with　the　size　of　him。〃　Harry　looked　shaken　and　thoughtful。　
〃Well；　if　he　didn't　kill　the　little　girls；　who　did？〃　Dean　asked。　
I　shook　my　head。　〃Someone　else。　Someone　white　would　be　my　best　guess。　The　prosecutor　made　a　big　deal　about　how　it　would　have　taken　a　strong　man　to　kill　a　dog　as　big　as　the　one　the　Dettericks　kept；　but…〃　
〃That's　crap；〃　Brutus　rumbled。　〃A　strong　twelve　year…old　girl　could　break　a　big　dog's　neck；　if　she　took　the　dog　by　surprise　and　knew　where　to　grab。　If　Coffey　didn't　do　it；　it　could　have　been　damned　near　anyone　。。。　any　man；　that　is。　We'll　probably　never　know。〃　
I　said；　〃Unless　he　does　it　again。〃　
〃We　wouldn't　know　even　then；　if　he　did　it　down　Texas　or　over　in　California；〃　Harry　said。　
Brutal　leaned　back；　screwed　his　fists　into　his　eyes　like　a　tired　child；　then　dropped　them　into　his　lap　again。　〃This　is　a　nightmare；〃　he　said。　〃We've　got　a　man　who　may　be　innocent　…　who　probably　is　innocent　…　and　he's　going　to　walk　the　Green　Mile　just　as　sure　as　God　made　tall　trees　and　little　fishes。　What　are　we　supposed　to　do　about　it？　If　we　start　in　with　that　healing…fingers　shit；　everyone　is　going　to　laugh　their　asses　off；　and　he'll　end　up　in　the　Fry…O…Lator　just　the　same。〃　
〃Let's　worry　about　that　later；〃　I　said；　because　I　didn't　have　the　slightest　idea　how　to　answer　him。　〃The　question　right　now　is　what　we　do　…　or　don't　do　…　about　Melly。　I'd　say　step　back　and　take　a　few　days　to　think　it　over；　but　I　believe　every　day　we　wait　raises　the　chances　that　he　won't　be　able　to　help　her。〃　
〃Remember　him　holding　his　hands　out　for　the　mouse？〃　Brutal　asked。　〃'Give　im　to　me　while　there's　still　time；'　he　said。　While　there's　still　time。〃　
〃I　remember。〃　
Brutal　considered；　then　nodded。　〃I'm　in。　I　feel　bad　about　Del；　too；　but　mostly　I　think　I　just　want　to　see　what　happens　when　he　touches　her。　Probably　nothing　will；　but　maybe　。。。〃　
〃I　doubt　like　hell　we　even　get　the　big　dummy　off　the　block；〃　Harry　said；　then　sighed　and　nodded。　〃But　who　gives　a　shit？　Count　me　in。〃　
〃Me；　too；〃　Dean　said。　〃Who　stays　on　the　block；　Paul？　Do　we　draw　straws　for　it？〃　
〃No；　sir；〃　I　said。　〃No　straws。　You　stay。〃　
〃Just　like　that？　The　hell　you　say！〃　Dean　replied；　hurt　and　angry。　He　whipped　off　his　spectacles　and　began　to　polish　them　furiously　on　his　shirt。　〃What　kind　of　a　bum　deal　is　that？〃　
〃The　kind　you　get　if　you're　young　enough　to　have　kids　still　in　school；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Harry　and　me's　bachelors。　Paul's　married；　but　his　kids　are　grown　and　off　on　their　own；　at　least。　This　is　a　mucho　crazy　stunt　we're　planning　here；　I　think　we're　almost　sure　to　get　caught。〃　He　gazed　at　me　soberly。　〃One　thing　you　didn't　mention；　Paul；　is　that　if　we　do　manage　to　get　him　out　of　the　slam　and　then　Coffey's　healing　fingers　don't　work；　Hal　Moores　is　apt　to　turn　us　in　himself。〃　He　gave　me　a　chance　to　reply　to　this；　maybe　to　rebut　it；　but　I　couldn't　and　so　I　kept　my　mouth　shut。　Brutal　turned　back　to　Dean　and　went　on。　〃Don't　get　me　wrong；　you're　apt　to　lose　your　job；　too；　but　at　least　you'd　have　a　chance　to　get　clear　of　prison　if　the　heat　really　came　down。　Percy's　going　to　think　it　was　a　prank；　if　you're　on　the　duty　desk；　you　can　say　you　thought　the　same　thing　and　we　never　told　you　any　different。〃　
〃I　still　don't　like　it；〃　Dean　said；　but　it　was　clear　he'd　go　along　with　it；　like　it　or　not。　The　thought　of　his　kiddies　had　convinced　him。　〃And　it's　to　be　tonight？　You're　sure？〃　
〃If　we're　going　to　do　it；　it　had　better　be　tonight；〃　Harry　said。　〃If　I　get　a　chance　to　think　about　it；　I'll　most　likely　lose　my　nerve。〃　
〃Let　me　be　the　one　to　go　by　the　infirmary；〃　Dean　said。　〃I　can　do　that　much　at　least；　can't　I？〃　
〃As　long　as　you　can　do　what　needs　doing　without　getting　caught；〃　Brutal　said。　
Dean　looked　offended；　and　I　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder。　〃As　soon　after　you　clock　in　as　you　can　。。。　all　right？〃　
〃You　bet。〃　
My　wife　popped　her　head　through　the　door　as　if　I'd　given　her　a　cue　to　do　so。　〃Who's　for　more　iced　tea？〃　she　asked　brightly。　〃What　about　you；　Brutus？〃　
〃No；　thanks；〃　he　said。　〃What　I'd　like　is　a　good　hard　knock　of　whiskey；　but　under　the　circumstances；　that　might　not　be　a　good　idea。〃　
Janice　looked　at　me；　smiling　mouth；　worried　eyes。　〃What　are　you　getting　these　boys　into；　Paul？〃　But　before　I　could　even　think　of　framing　a　reply；　she　raised　her　hand　and　said；　〃Never　mind；　I　don't　want　to　know。〃　
3。　
Later；　long　after　the　others　were　gone　and　while　I　was　dressing　for　work；　she　took　me　by　the　arm；　swung　me　around；　and　looked　into　my　eyes　with　fierce　intensity。　
〃Melinda？〃　she　asked。　
I　nodded。　
〃Can　you　do　something　for　her；　Paul？　Really　do　something　for　her；　or　is　it　all　wishful　dreaming　brought　on　by　what　you　saw　last　night？〃　
I　thought　of　Coffey's　eyes；　of　Coffey's　hands；　and　of　the　hypnotized　way　I'd　gone　to　him　when　he'd　wanted　me。　I　thought　of　him　holding　out　his　hands　for　Mr。　Jingles's　broken；　dying　body。　While　there's　still　time；　he　had　said。　And　the　black　swirling　things　that　turned　white　and　disappeared。　
〃I　think　we　might　be　the　only　chance　she　has　left；〃　I　said　at　last。　
〃Then　take　it；〃　she　said；　buttoning　the　front　of　my　new　fall　coat。　It　had　been　in　the　closet　since　my　birthday　at　the　beginning　of　September；　but　this　was　only　the　third　or　fourth　time　I'd　actually　worn　it。　〃Take　it。〃　
And　she　practically　pushed　me　out　the　door。　
4。　
I　clocked　in　that　night　…　in　many　ways　the　strangest　night　of　my　entire　life　…　at　twenty　past　six。　I　thought　I　could　still　smell　the　faint；　lingering　odor　of　burned　flesh　on　the　air。　It　had　to　be　an　illusion　…　the　doors　to　the　outside；　both　on　the　block　and　in　the　storage　room；　had　been　open　most　of　the　day；　and　the　previous　two　shifts　had　spent　hours　scrubbing　in　there　…　but　that　didn't　change　what　my　nose　was　telling　me；　and　I　didn't　think　I　could　have　eaten　any　dinner　even　if　I　hadn't　been　scared　almost　to　death　about　the　evening　which　lay　ahead。　
Brutal　came　on　the　block　at　quarter　to　seven；　Dean　at　ten　'til。　I　asked　Dean　if　he　would　go　over　to　the　infirmary　and　see　if　they　had　a　heating　pad　for　my　back；　which　I　seemed　to　have　strained　that　early　morning；　helping　to　carry　Delacroix's　body　down　into　the　tunnel。　Dean　said　he'd　be　happy　to。　I　believe　he　wanted　to　tip　me　a　wink；　but　restrained　himself。　
Harry　clocked　on　at　three　minutes　to　seven。　
〃The　truck？〃　I　asked。　
〃Where　we　talked　about。〃　
So　far；　so　good。　There　followed　a　little　passage　of　time　when　we　stood　by　the　duty　desk；　drinking　coffee　and　studiously　not　mentioning　what　we　were　all　thinking　and　hoping：　that　Percy　was　late；　that　maybe　Percy　wasn't　going　to　show　up　at　all。　Considering　the　hostile　reviews　he'd　gotten　on　the　way　he'd　handled　the　electrocution；　that　seemed　at　least　possible。　
But　Percy　apparently　subscribed　to　that　old　axiom　about　how　you　should　get　right　back　on　the　horse　that　h