绿里奇迹(英文版)-第14章

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I　went　through　my　set　speech；　all　about　how　we　had　the　radio　…　Make　Believe　Ballroom　and　Our　Gal　Sunday；　and　how　we'd　treat　him　jake　if　he　did　the　same　for　us。　That　little　homily　was　not　what　you'd　call　one　of　my　great　successes。　He　cried　all　the　way　through　it；　sitting　huddled　up　at　the　foot　of　his　bunk；　as　far　from　me　as　he　could　get　without　actually　fading　into　the　corner。　He　cringed　every　time　I　moved；　and　I　don't　think　he　heard　one　word　in　six。　Probably　just　as　well。　I　don't　think　that　particular　homily　made　a　whole　lot　of　sense；　anyway。　
Fifteen　minutes　later　I　was　back　at　the　desk；　where　a　shaken…looking　Brutus　Howell　was　sitting　and　licking　the　tip　of　the　pencil　we　kept　with　the　visitors'　book。　〃Will　you　stop　that　before　you　poison　yourself；　for　God's　sake？〃　I　asked。　
〃Christ　almighty　Jesus；〃　he　said；　putting　the　pencil　down。　〃I　never　want　to　have　another　hooraw　like　that　with　a　prisoner　ing　on　the　block。〃　
〃My　Daddy　always　used　to　say　things　e　in　threes；〃　I　said。　
〃Well；　I　hope　your　Daddy　was　full　of　shit　on　that　subject；〃　Brutal　said；　but　of　course　he　wasn't。　There　was　a　squall　when　John　Coffey　came　in；　and　a　fullblown　storm　when　〃Wild　Bill〃　joined　us　…　it's　funny；　but　things　really　do　seem　to　e　in　threes。　The　story　of　our　introduction　to　Wild　Bill；　how　he　came　onto　the　Mile　trying　to　mit　murder；　is　something　I'll　get　to　shortly；　fair　warning。　
〃What's　this　about　Delacroix　copping　his　joint？〃　I　asked。　
Brutal　snorted。　〃He　was　ankle…chained　and　ole　Percy　was　just　pulling　him　too　fast；　that's　all。　He　stumbled　and　started　to　fall　as　he　got　out　of　the　stagecoach。　He　put　his　hands　out　same　as　anyone　would　when　they　start　to　fall；　and　one　of　them　brushed　the　front　of　Percy's　pants。　It　was　a　plete　accident！〃　
〃Did　Percy　know　that；　do　you　think？〃　I　asked。　〃Was　he　maybe　using　it　as　an　excuse　just　because　he　felt　like　whaling　on　Delacroix　a　little　bit？　Showing　him　who　bosses　the　shooting　match　around　here？〃　
Brutal　nodded　slowly。　〃Yeah。　I　think　that　was　probably　it。〃　
〃We　have　to　watch　him；　then；〃　I　said；　and　ran　my　hands；　through　my　hair。　As　if　the　job　wasn't　hard　enough。　〃God；　I　hate　this。　I　hate　him。〃　
〃Me；　too。　And　you　want　to　know　something　else；　Paul？　I　don't　understand　him。　He's　got　connections；　I　understand　that；　all　right；　but　why　would　he　use　them　to　get　a　job　on　the　Green　fucking　Mile？　Anywhere　in　the　state　pen；　for　that　matter？　Why　not　as　a　page　in　the　state　senate；　or　the　guy　who　makes　the　lieutenant　governor's　appointments？　Surely　his　people　could've　gotten　him　something　better　if　he'd　asked　them；　so　why　here？〃　
I　shook　my　head。　I　didn't　know。　There　were　a　lot　of　things　I　didn't　know　then。　I　suppose　I　was　naive。　
8。　
After　that；　things　went　back　to　normal　again　。。。　for　awhile；　at　least。　Down　in　the　county　seat；　the　state　was　preparing　to　bring　John　Coffey　to　trial；　and　Trapingus　County　Sheriff　Homer　Cribus　was　pooh…poohing　the　idea　that　a　lynch…mob　might　hurry　justice　along　a　little　bit。　None　of　that　mattered　to　us；　on　E　Block；　no　one　paid　much　attention　to　the　news。　Life　on　the　Green　Mile　was；　in　a　way；　like　life　in　a　soundproof　room。　From　time　to　time　you　heard　mutterings　that　were　probably　explosions　in　the　outside　world；　but　that　was　about　all。　They　wouldn't　hurry　with　John　Coffey；　they'd　want　to　make　damned　sure　of　him。　
On　a　couple　of　occasions　Percy　got　to　ragging　Delacroix；　and　the　second　time　I　pulled　him　aside　and　told　him　to　e　up　to　my　office。　It　wasn't　my　first　interview　with　Percy　on　the　subject　of　his　behavior；　and　it　wouldn't　be　the　last；　but　it　was　prompted　by　what；　was　probably　the　clearest　understanding　of　what　he　was。　He　had　the　heart　of　a　cruel　boy　who　goes　to　the　zoo　not　so　he　can　study　the　animals　but　so　he　can　throw　stones　at　them　in　their　cages。　
〃You　stay　away　from　him；　now；　you　hear？〃　I　said。　〃Unless　I　give　you　a　specific　order；　just　stay　the　hell　away　from　him。〃　
Percy　bed　his　hair　back；　then　patted　at　it　with　his　sweet　little　hands。　That　boy　just　loved　touching　his　hair。　〃I　wasn't　doing　nothing　to　him；〃　he　said。　〃Only　asking　how　it　felt　to　know　you　had　burned　up　some　babies；　is　all。〃　Percy　gave　me　a　round…eyed；　innocent　stare。　
〃You　quit　with　it；　or　there'll　be　a　report；〃　I　said。　
He　laughed。　〃Make　any　report　you　want；〃　he　said。　〃Then　I'll　turn　around　and　make　my　own。　Just　like　I　told　you　when　he　came　in。　We'll　see　who　es　off　the　best。〃　
I　leaned　forward；　hands　folded　on　my　desk；　and　spoke　in　a　tone　I　hoped　would　sound　like　a　friend　being　confidential。　〃Brutus　Howell　doesn't　like　you　much；〃　I　said。　〃And　when　Brutal　doesn't　like　someone；　he's　been　known　to　make　his　own　report。　He　isn't　much　shakes　with　a　pen；　and　he　can't　quit　from　licking　that　pencil；　so　he's　apt　to　report　with　his　fists。　If　you　know　what　I　mean。〃　
Percy's　placent　little　smile　faltered。　〃What　are　you　trying　to　say〃　
〃I'm　not　trying　to　say　anything。　I　have　said　it。　And　if　you　tell　any　of　your　。。。friends　。。。　about　this　discussion；　I'll　say　you　made　the　whole　thing　up。〃　I　looked　at　him　all　wide…eyed　and　earnest。　〃Besides；　I'm　trying　to　be　your　friend；　Percy。　A　word　to　the　wise　is　sufficient；　they　say。　And　why　would　you　want　to　get　into　it　with　Delacroix　in　the　first　place？　He's　not　worth　it。〃　
And　for　awhile　that　worked。　There　was　peace。　A　couple　of　times　I　was　even　able　to　send　Percy　with　Dean　or　Harry　when　Delacroix's　time　to　shower　had　rolled　around。　We　had　the　radio　at　night；　Delacroix　began　to　relax　a　little　into　the　scant　routine　of　E　Block；　and　there　was　peace。　
Then；　one　night；　I　heard　him　laughing。　
Harry　Terwilliger　was　on　the　desk；　and　soon　he　was　laughing；　too。　I　got　up　and　went　on　down　to　Delacroix's　cell　to　see　what　he　possibly　had　to　laugh　about。　
〃Look；　Cap'n〃　he　said　when　he　saw　me。　〃I　done　tame　me　a　mouse！〃　
It　was　Steamboat　Willy。　He　was　in　Delacroix's　cell。　More：　he　was　sitting　on　Delacroix's　shoulder　and　looking　calmly　out　through　the　bars　at　us　with　his　little　oildrop　eyes。　His　tail　was　curled　around　his　paws；　and　he　looked　pletely　at　peace。　As　for　Delacroix　…　friend；　you　wouldn't　have　known　it　was　the　same　man　who'd　sat　cringing　and　shuddering　at　the　foot　of　his　bunk　not　a　week　before。　He　looked　like　my　daughter　used　to　on　Christmas　morning；　when　she　came　down　the　stairs　and　saw　the　presents。　
〃Watch　dis！〃　Delacroix　said。　The　mouse　was　sitting　on　his　right　shoulder。　Delacroix　stretched　out　his　left　arm。　The　mouse　scampered　up　to　the　top　of　Delacroix's　head；　using　the　man's　hair　（which　was　thick　enough　in　back；　at　least）　to　climb　up。　Then　he　scampered　down　the　other　side；　Delacroix　giggling　as　his　tail　tickled　the　side　of　his　neck。　The　mouse　ran　all　the　way　down　his　arm　to　his　wrist；　then　turned；　scampered　back　up　to　Delacroix's　left　shoulder；　and　curled　his　tail　around　his　feet　again。　
〃I'll　be　damned；〃　Harry　said。　
〃I　train　him　to　do　that；〃　Delacroix　said　proudly。　I　thought；　In　a　pig's　ass　you　did；　but　kept　my　mouth　shut。　〃His　name　is　Mr。　Jingles。〃　
〃Nah；〃　Harry　said　goodnaturedly。　〃It's　Steamboat　Willy；　like　in　the　pitcher…show。　Boss　Howell　named　him。〃　
〃It's　Mr。　Jingles；〃　Delacroix　said。　On　any　other　subject　he　would　have　told　you　that　shit　was　Shinola；　if　you　wanted　him　to；　but　on　the　subject　of　the　mouse's　name　he　was　perfectly　adamant。　〃He　whisper　it　in　my　ear。　Cap'n；　can　I　have　a　box　for　him？　Can　I　have　a　box　for　my　mous'；　so　he　can　sleep　in　here　wit　me？〃　His　voice　began　to　fall　into　wheedling　tones　I　had　heard　a　thousand　times　before。　〃I　put　him　under　my　bunk　and　he　never　be　a　scrid　of　trouble；　not　one。〃　
〃Your　English　gets　a　hell　of　a　lot　better　when　you　want　something；〃　I　said；　stalling　for　time。　
〃Oh…oh；〃　Harry　murmured；　nudging　me。　〃Here　es　trouble。〃　
But　Percy　didn't　look　like　trouble　to　me；　not　that　night。　He　wasn't　running　his　hands　through　his　hair　or　fiddling　with　that　baton　of　his；　and　the　top　button　of　his　uniform　shirt　was　actually　undone。　It　was　the　first　time　I'd　seen　him　that　way；　and　it　was　amazing；　what　a　change　a　little　thing　like　that　could　make。　Mostly；　though；　what　struck　me　was　the　expression　on　his　face。　There　was　a　calmness　there。　Not　serenity　…　I　don't　think　Percy　Wetmore　had　a　serene　bone　in　his　body　…　but　the　look　of　a　man　who　has　discovered　he　can　wait　for　the　things　he　　the　young　man　I'd　had　to　threaten　with　Brutus　Howell's　fists　only　a　few　days　before。　
Delacroix　didn't　see　the　change；　though；　he　cringed　against　the　wall　of　his　cell；　drawing　his　knees　up　to　his　chest。　His　eyes　seemed　to　grow　until　they　were　taking　up　half　his　face。　The　mouse　scampered　up　on　his　bald　pate　and　sat　there。　I　don't　know　if　he　remembered　that　he　also　had　reason　to　distrust　Percy；　but　it　certainly　looked　as　if　he　did。　Probably　it　was　just　smelling　the　little　Frenchman's　fear；　and　reacting　off　that。　
〃Well；　well；〃　Percy　said。　〃Looks　like　you　found　yourself　a　friend；　Eddie。〃　
Delacroix　tried　to　reply…some　hollow　defiance　about　what　would　happen　to　Percy　if　Percy　hurt　his　new　pal　would　have　been　my　guess　…　but　nothing　came　out。　His　lower　lip　trembled　a　little；　but　that　was　all。　On　top　of　his　head；　Mr。　Jingles　wasn't　trembling。　He　sat　perfectly　still　with　his　back　feet　in　Delacroix's　hair　and　his　front　ones　splayed　on　Delacroix's　bald　looking　at　Percy；　seeming　to　size　him　up。　The　way　you'd　size　up　an　old　enemy。　
Percy　looked　at　me。　〃Isn't　that　the　same　one　I　chased？　The　one　that　lives　in　the　restraint　room？〃　
I　nodded。　I　had　an　idea　Percy　hadn't　seen　the　newly　named　Mr。　Jingles　since　that　last　chase；　and　he　showed　no　signs　of　wanting　to　chase　it　now。　
〃Yes；　that's　the　one；〃　I　said。　〃Only　Delacroix　there　says　his　name　is　Mr。　Jingles；　not　Steamboat　Willy。　Says　the　mouse　whispered　it　in　his　ear。〃　
〃Is　that　so；〃　Percy　said。　〃Wonders　never　cease；　do　they？〃　I　half…expected　him　to　pull　out　his　baton　and　start　tapping　it　against　the　bars；　just　to　show　Delacroix　who　was　boss；　but　he　only　stood　there　with　his　hands　on　his　hips；　looking　in。　
And　for　no　reason　I　could　have　told　you　in　words；　I　said：　〃Delacroix　there　was　just　asking　for　a　box；　Percy。　He　thinks　that　mouse　will　sleep　in　it；　I　guess。　That　he　can　keep　it　for　a　pet。〃　I　loaded　my　voice　with　skepticism；　and　sensed　more　than　saw　Harry　looking　at　me　in　surprise。　〃What　do　you　think　about　that？〃　
〃I　think　it'll　probably　shit　up　his　nose　some　night　while　he's　sleeping　and　then　run　away；〃　Percy　said　evenly；　〃but　I　guess　that's　the　French　boy's　lookout。　I　seen　a　pretty　nice　cigar　box　on　Toot…Toot's　cart　the　other　night。　I　don't　know　if　he'd　give　it　away；　though。　Probably　want　a　nickel　for　it；　maybe　even　a　dime。〃　
Now　I　did　risk　a　glance　at　Harry；　and　saw　his　mouth　hanging　open。　This　wasn't　quite　like　the　change　in　Ebenezer　Scrooge　on　Christmas　morning；　after　the　ghosts　had　had　their　way　with　him；　but　it　was　damned　close。　
Percy　leaned　closer　to　Delacroix；　putting　his　face　between　the　bars。　Delacroix　shrank　back　even　farther。　I　swear　to　God　that　he　would　have　melted　into　that　wall　if　he'd　been　able。　
〃You　got　a　nickel　or　maybe　as　much　as　a　dime　to　pay　for　a　cigar　box；　you　lugoon？〃　he　asked。　
〃I　got　four　pennies；〃；　Delacroix　said。　〃I　give　them　for　a　box；　if　it　a　good　one；　s'il　est　bon。〃　
〃I'll　tell　you　what；〃　Percy　said。　〃If　that　toothless　old　whoremaster　will　sell　you　that　Corona　box　for　four　cents；　I'll　sneak　some　cotton　batting　out　of　the　dispensary　to　line　it　with。　We'll　make　us　a　regular　Mousie　Hilton；　before　we're　through。〃　He　shifted　his　eyes　to　me。　〃I'm　supposed　to　write　a　switch…room　report　about　Bitterbuck；〃　he　said。　〃Is　there　some　pens　in　your　office；　Paul？〃　
〃Yes；　indeed；〃　I　said。　〃Forms；　too。　Lefthand　top　drawer。〃　
〃Well；　that's　aces；〃　he　said；　and　went　swaggering　off。　
Harry　and　I　looked　at　each　other。　〃Is　he　sick；　do　you　think？〃　Harry　asked。　〃Maybe　went　to　his　doctor　and　found　out　he's　only　got　three　months　to　live？〃　
I　told　him　I　didn't　have　the　slightest　idea　what　was　up。　It　was　the　truth　then；　and　for　awhile　after；　but　I　found　out　in　time。　And　a　few　years　later；　I　had　an　interesting　supper…table　conversation　with　Hal　Moores。　By　then　we　could　talk　freely；　what　with　him　being　retired　and　me　being　at　the　Boys'　Correctional。　It　was　one　of　those　meals　where　you　drink　too　much　and　eat　too　little；　and　tongues　get　loosened。　Hal　told　me　that　Percy　had　been　in　to　plain　about　me　and　about　life　on　the　Mile　in　general。　This　was　just　after　Delacroix　came　on　the　block；　and　Brutal　and　I　had　kept　Percy　from　beating　him　half　to　death。　What　had　griped　Percy　the　most　was　me　telling　him　to　get　out　of　my　sight。　He　didn't　think　a　man　who　was　related　to　the　governor　should　have　to　put　up　with　talk　like　that。　
Well；　Moores　told　me；　he　had　stood　Percy　off　for　as　long　as　he　could；　and　when　it　became　dear　to　him　that　Percy　was　going　to　try　pulling　some　strings　to　get　me　reprimanded　and　moved　to　another　part　of　the　prison　at　the　very　least；　he；　Moores；　had　pulled　Percy　into　his　office　and　told　him　that　if　he　quit　rocking　the　boat；　Moores　would　make　sure　that　Percy　was　out　front　for　Delacroix's　execution。　That　he　would；　in　fact；　be　placed　right　beside　the　chair。　I　would　be　in　charge；　as　always；　but　the　witnesses　wouldn't　know　that；　to　them　it　would　look　as　if　Mr。　Percy　Wetmore　was　boss　of　the　cotillion。　Moores　wasn't　promising　any　more　than　what　we'd　already　discussed　and　I'd　gone　along　with；　but　Percy　didn't　know　that。　He　agreed　to　leave　off　his　threats　to　have　me　reassigned；　and　the