绿里奇迹(英文版)-第38部分

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st　me？〃　
He　looked　puzzled　for　a　moment；　maybe　a　bit　unsettled。　Then　the　grin　returned。　〃Old…timer；〃　he　said；　〃could　be　I　just　don't　like　your　face。　What　you　writin；　anyway？　Last　will　n　testicles？〃　
He　came　forward；　craning。　I　slapped　my　hand　over　the　page　I'd　been　working　on。　The　rest　of　them　I　began　to　rake　together　with　my　free　hand；　crumpling　some　in　my　hurry　to　get　them　under　my　arm　and　under　cover。　
〃Now；〃　he　said；　as　if　speaking　to　a　baby；　〃that　ain't　going　to　work；　you　old　sweetheart。　If　Brad　wants　to　look；　Brad　is　going　to　look。　And　you　can　take　that　to　the　everfucking　bank。〃　
His　hand；　young　and　hideously　strong；　closed　over　my　wrist；　and　squeezed。　Pain　sank　into　my　hand　like　teeth；　and　I　groaned。　
〃Let　go；〃　I　managed。　
〃When　you　let　me　see；〃　he　replied；　and　he　was　no　longer　smiling。　His　face　was　cheerful；　though；　the　kind　of　good　cheer　you　only　see　on　the　faces　of　folks　who　enjoy　being　mean。　〃Let　me　see；　Paulie。　I　want　to　know　what　you're　writing。〃　My　hand　began　to　move　away　from　the　top　page。　From　our　trip　with　John　back　through　the　tunnel　under　the　road。　〃I　want　to　see　if　it　has　anything　to　do　with　where　you…''　
〃Let　that　man　alone。〃　
The　voice　was　like　a　harsh　whipcrack　on　a　dry；　hot　day　。。。　and　the　way　Brad　Dolan　jumped；　you　would　have　thought　his　ass　had　been　the　target。　He　let　go　of　my　hand；　which　thumped　back　down　on　my　paperwork；　and　we　both　looked　toward　the　door。　
Elaine　Connelly　was　standing　there；　looking　fresh　and　stronger　than　she　had　in　days。　She　wore　jeans　that　showed　off　her　slim　hips　and　long　legs；　there　was　a　blue　ribbon　in　her　hair。　She　had　a　tray　in　her　arthritic　hands　…　juice；　a　scrambled　egg；　toast；　more　tea。　And　her　eyes　were　blazing。　
〃What　do　you　think　you're　doing？〃　Brad　asked。　〃He　can't　eat　up　here。〃　
〃He　can；　and　he's　going　to；〃　she　said　in　that　same　dry　tone　of　mand。　I　had　never　heard　it　before；　but　I　weled　it　now。　I　looked　for　fear　in　her　eyes　and　saw　not　a　speck　…　only　rage。　〃And　what　you're　going　to　do　is　get　out　of　here　before　you　go　beyond　the　cockroach　level　of　nuisance　to　that　of　slightly　larger　vermin　…　Rattus　Americanus；　let　us　say！〃　
He　took　a　step　toward　her；　looking　both　unsure　of　himself　and　absolutely　furious。　I　thought　it　a　dangerous　bination；　but　Elaine　didn't　flinch　as　he　approached。　〃I　bet　I　know　who　set　off　that　goddam　smoke　alarm；〃　Dolan　said。　〃Might　could　have　been　a　certain　old　bitch　with　claws　for　hands。　Now　get　out　of　here。　Me　and　Paulie　haven't　finished　our　little　talk；　yet！〃　
〃His　name　is　Mr。　Edgebe；〃　she　said；　〃and　if　I　ever　hear　you　call　him　Paulie　again；　I　think　I　can　promise　you　that　your　days　of　employment　here　at　Georgia　Pines　will　end；　Mr。　Dolan。〃　
〃Just　who　do　you　think　you　are？〃　he　asked　her。　He　was　hulking　over　her；　now；　trying　to　laugh　and　not　quite　making　it。　
〃I　think；〃　she　said　calmly；　〃that　I　am　the　grandmother　of　the　man　who　is　currently　Speaker　of　the　Georgia　House　of　Representatives。　A　man　who　loves　his　relatives；　Mr。　Dolan。　Especially　his　older　relatives。〃　
The　effortful　smile　dropped　off　his　face　the　way　that　writing　es　off　a　blackboard　swiped　with　a　wet　sponge。　I　saw　uncertainty；　the　possibility　that　he　was　being　bluffed；　the　fear　that　he　was　not；　and　a　certain　dawning　logical　assumption：　it　would　be　easy　enough　to　check；　she　must　know　that；　ergo　she　was　telling　the　truth。　
Suddenly　I　began　to　laugh；　and　although　the　sound　was　rusty；　it　was　right。　I　was　remembering　how　many　times　Percy　Wetmore　had　threatened　us　with　his　connections；　back　in　the　bad　old　days。　Now；　for　the　first　time　in　my　long；　long　life；　such　a　threat　was　being　made　again　。。。　but　this　time　it　was　being　made　on　my　behalf。　
Brad　Dolan　looked　at　me；　glaring；　then　looked　back　at　her。　
〃I　mean　it；〃　Elaine　said。　〃At　first　I　thought　I'd　just　let　you　be　…　I'm　old；　and　that　seemed　easiest。　But　when　my　friends　are　threatened　and　abused；　I　do　not　just　let　be。　Now　get　out　of　here。　And　without　one　more　word。〃　
His　lips　moved　like　those　of　a　fish　…　oh；　how　badly　he　wanted　to　say　that　one　more　word　（perhaps　the　one　that　rhymes　with　witch）。　He　didn't；　though。　He　gave　me　a　final　look；　and　then　strode　past　her　and　out　into　the　hall。　
I　let　out　my　breath　in　a　long；　ragged　sigh　as　Elaine　set　the　tray　down　in　front　of　me　and　then　set　herself　down　across　from　me。　〃Is　your　grandson　really　Speaker　of　the　House？〃　I　asked。　
〃He　really　is。〃　
〃Then　what　are　you　doing　here？〃　
〃Speaker　of　the　statehouse　makes　him　powerful　enough　to　deal　with　a　roach　like　Brad　Dolan；　but　it　doesn't　make　him　rich；〃　she　said；　laughing。　〃Besides；　I　like　it　here。　I　like　the　pany。〃　
〃I　will　take　that　as　a　pliment；〃　I　said；　and　I　did。　
〃Paul；　are　you　all　right？　You　look　so　tired。〃　She　reached　across　the　table　and　brushed　my　hair　away　from　my　forehead　and　eyebrows。　Her　fingers　were　twisted；　but　her　touch　was　cool　and　wonderful。　I　closed　my　eyes　for　a　moment。　When　I　opened　them　again；　I　had　made　a　decision。　
〃I'm　all　right；〃　I　said。　〃And　almost　finished。　Elaine；　would　you　read　something？〃　I　offered　her　the　pages　I　had　clumsily　swept　together。　They　were　probably　no　longer　in　the　right　order　…　Dolan　really　had　scared　me　badly　…　but　they　were　numbered　and　she　could　quickly　put　them　right。　
She　looked　at　me　consideringly；　not　taking　what　I　was　offering。　Yet；　anyway。　〃Are　you　done？〃　
〃It'll　take　you　until　afternoon　to　read　what's　there；〃　I　said。　〃If　you　can　make　it　out　at　all；　that　is。〃　
Now　she　did　take　the　pages；　and　looked　down　at　them。　〃You　write　with　a　very　fine　hand；　even　when　that　hand　is　obviously　tired；〃　she　said。　〃I'll　have　no　trouble　with　this。〃　
〃By　the　time　you　finish　reading；　I　will　have　finished　writing；〃　I　said。　〃You　can　read　the　rest　in　a　half　an　hour　or　so。　And　then　。。。　if　you're　still　willing　。。。　I'd　like　to　show　you　something。〃　
〃Is　it　to　do　with　where　you　go　most　mornings　and　afternoons？〃　
I　nodded。　
She　sat　thinking　about　it　for　what　seemed　a　long　time；　then　nodded　herself　and　got　up　with　the　pages　in　her　hand。　〃I'll　go　out　back；〃　she　said。　〃The　sun　is　very　warm　this　morning。〃　
〃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　m