绿里奇迹(英文版)-第29章

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g　their　eyes　to　Old　Sparky。　They　might　have　made　jokes　about　this　chore　earlier　in　the　week；　but　the　jokes　were　gone　by　eleven…thirty　or　so　that　night。　I　started　all　this　by　telling　you　that　the　humor　went　out　of　the　situation　in　a　hurry　for　the　people　who　had　to　sit　down　in　that　oak　chair；　but　the　condemned　prisoners　weren't　the　only　ones　who　lost　the　smiles　off　their　faces　when　the　time　actually　came。　It　just　seemed　so　bald；　somehow；　squatting　up　there　on　its　platform；　with　the　clamps　on　the　legs　sticking　off　to　either　side；　looking　like　the　things　a　person　with　polio　would　have　to　wear。　There　wasn't　much　talk；　and　when　the　thunder　boomed　again；　as　sharp　and　personal　as　a　splintering　tree；　the　sister　of　Delacroix's　victim　gave　a　little　scream。　The　last　person　to　take　his　seat　in　the　witness's　section　was　Curtis　Anderson；　Warden　Moores's　stand…in。　
At　eleven…thirty；　I　approached　Delacroix's　cell　with　Brutal　and　Dean　walking　slightly　behind　me。　Del　was　sitting　on　his　bunk；　with　Mr。　Jingles　in　his　lap。　The　mouse's　head　was　stretched　forward　toward　the　condemned　man；　his　little　oilspot　eyes　rapt　on　Del's　face。　Del　was　stroking　the　top　of　Mr。　Jingles's　head　between　his　ears。　Large　silent　tears　were　rolling　down　Del's　face；　and　it　was　these　the　mouse　seemed　to　be　peering　at。　Del　looked　up　at　the　sound　of　our　footsteps。　He　was　very　pale。　From　behind　me；　I　sensed　rather　than　saw　John　Coffey　standing　at　his　cell　door；　watching。　
Del　winced　at　the　sound　of　my　keys　clashing　against　metal；　but　held　steady；　continuing　to　stroke　Mr。　Jingles's　head；　as　I　turned　the　locks　and　ran　the　door　open。　
〃Hi　dere；　Boss　Edgebe；〃　he　said。　〃Hi　dere；　boys。　Say　hi；　Mr。　Jingles。〃　But　Mr。　Jingles　only　continued　to　look　raptly　up　at　the　balding　little　man's　face；　as　if　wondering　at　the　source　of　his　tears。　The　colored　spool　had　been　neatly　laid　aside　in　the　Corona　box　…　laid　aside　for　the　last　time；　I　thought；　and　felt　a　pang。　
〃Eduard　Delacroix；　as　an　officer　of　the　court。。。〃　
〃Boss　Edgebe？〃　
I　thought　about　just　running　on　with　the　set　speech；　then　thought　again。　〃What　is　it；　Del？〃　
He　held　the　mouse　out　to　me。　〃Here。　Don't　let　nothing　happen　to　Mr。　Jingles。〃　
〃Del；　I　don't　think　he'll　e　to　me。　He's　not　…　〃　
〃Mais　oui；　he　say　he　will。　He　say　he　know　all　about　you；　Boss　Edgebe；　and　you　gonna　take　him　down　to　dat　place　in　Florida　where　the　mousies　do　their　tricks。　He　say　he　trust　you。〃　He　held　his　hand　out　farther；　and　I'll　be　damned　if　the　mouse　didn't　step　off　his　palm　and　onto　my　shoulder。　It　was　so　light　I　couldn't　even　feel　it　through　my　uniform　coat；　but　I　sensed　it；　like　a　small　heat。　〃And　boss？　Don't　let　that　bad　'un　near　him　again。　Don't　let　that　bad　'un　hurt　my　mouse。〃　
〃No；　Del。　I　won't。〃　The　question　was；　what　was　I　supposed　to　do　with　him　right　then？　I　couldn't　very　well　march　Delacroix　past　the　witnesses　with　a　mouse　perched　on　my　shoulder。　
〃I'll　take　him；　boss；〃　a　voice　rumbled　from　behind　me。　It　was　John　Coffey's　voice；　and　it　was　eerie　the　way　it　came　right　then；　as　though　he　had　read　my　mind。　〃Just　for　now。　If　Del　don't　mind。〃　
Del　nodded；　relieved。　〃Yeah；　you　take　im；　John；　'til　dis　foolishment　done　…　bien！　And　den　after　。。。〃　His　gaze　shifted　back　to　Brutal　and　me。　〃You　gonna　take　him　down　to　Florida。　To　dat　Mouseville　Place。〃　
〃Yeah；　most　likely　Paul　and　I　will　do　it　together；〃　Brutal　said；　watching　with　a　troubled　and　unquiet　eye　as　Mr。　Jingles　stepped　off　my　shoulder　and　into　Coffey's　huge　outstretched　palm。　Mr。　Jingles　did　this　with　no　protest　or　attempt　to　run；　indeed；　he　scampered　as　readily　up　John　Coffey's　arm　as　he　had　stepped　onto　my　shoulder。　〃We'll　take　some　of　our　vacation　time。　Won't　we；　Paul？〃　
I　nodded。　Del　nodded；　too；　eyes　bright；　just　a　trace　of　a　smile　on　his　lips。　〃People　pay　a　dime　apiece　to　see　him。　Two　cents　for　the　kiddies。　Ain't　dat　right；　Boss；Howell？〃　
〃That's　right；　Del。〃　
〃You　a　good　man；　Boss　Howell；〃　Del　said。　〃You；　too；　Boss　Edgebe。　You　yell　at　me　sometimes；　oui；　but　not　'less　you　have　to。　You　all　good　men　except　for　dat　Percy。　I　wish　I　coulda　met　you　someplace　else。　Mauvais　temps；　mauvaise　chance。〃　
〃I　got　something　to　say　to　you；　Del；…　I　told　him。　〃They're　just　the　words　I　have　to　say　to　everyone　before　we　walk。　No　big　deal；　but　it's　part　of　my　job。　Okay？〃　
〃Oui；　monsieur；〃　he　said；　and　looked　at　Mr。　Jingles；　perched　on　John　Coffey's　broad　shoulder；　for　the　last　time。　〃Au　revoir；　mon　ami；〃　he　said；　beginning　to　cry　harder。　〃le　t'aime；　mon　petit。〃　He　blew　the　mouse　a　kiss。　It　should　have　been　funny；　that　blown　kiss；　or　maybe　just　grotesque；　but　it　wasn't。　I　met　Dean's　eye　for　a　moment；　then　had　to　look　away。　Dean　stared　down　the　corridor　toward　the　restraint　room　and　smiled　strangely　I　believe　he　was　on　the　verge　of　tears。　As　for　me；　I　said　what　I　had　to　say；　beginning　with　the　part　about　how　I　was　an　officer　of　the　court；　and　when　I　was　done；　Delacroix　stepped　out　of　his　cell　for　the　last　time。　
〃Hold　on　a　second　longer；　hoss；〃　Brutal　said；　and　checked　the　crown　of　Del's　head；　where　the　cap　would　go。　He　nodded　at　me；　then　clapped　Del　on　the　shoulder。　〃Right　with　Eversharp。　We're　on　our　way。〃　
So　Eduard　Delacroix　took　his　last　walk　on　the　Green　Mile　with　little　streams　of　mingled　sweat　and　tears　running　down　his　cheeks　and　big　thunder　rolling　in　the　sky　overhead。　Brutal　walked　on　the　condemned　man's　left；　I　was　on　his　right；　Dean　was　to　the　rear。　
Schuster　was　in　my　office；　with　guards　Ringgold　and　Battle　standing　in　the　corners　and　keeping　watch。　Schuster　looked　up　at　Del；　smiled；　and　then　addressed　him　in　French。　It　sounded　stilted　to　me；　but　it　worked　wonders。　Del　smiled　back；　then　went　to　Schuster；　put　his　arms　around　him；　hugged　him。　Ringgold　and　Battle　tensed；　but　I　raised　my　hands　to　them　and　shook　my　head。　
Schuster　listened　to　Del's　flood　of　tear…choked　French；　nodded　as　if　he　understood　perfectly；　and　patted　him　on　the　back。　He　looked　at　me　over　the　little　man's　shoulder　and　said；　〃I　hardly　understand　a　quarter　of　what　he's　saying。〃　
〃Don't　think　it　matters；〃　Brutal　rumbled。　
〃Neither　do　I；　son；〃　Schuster　said　with　a　grin。　He　was　the　best　of　them；　and　now　I　realize　I　have　no　idea　what　became　of　him。　I　hope　he　kept　his　faith；　whatever　else　befell。　
He　urged　Delacroix　onto　his　knees；　then　folded　his　hands。　Delacroix　did　the　same。　
〃Not'　Pere；　qui　etes　aux　cieux；〃　Schuster　began；　and　Delacroix　joined　him。　They　spoke　the　Lord's　Prayer　together　in　that　liquid…sounding　Cajun　French；　all　the　way　to　〃mais　deliverez…nous　du　mal；　ainsi　soit…il。〃　By　then；　Del's　tears　had　mostly　stopped　and　he　looked　calm。　Some　Bible　verses　（in　English）　followed；　not　neglecting　the　old　standby　about　the　still　waters。　When　that　was　done；　Schuster　started　to　get　up；　but　Del　held　onto　the　sleeve　of　his　shirt　and　said　something　in　French。　Schuster　listened　carefully；　frowning。　He　responded。　Del　said　something　else；　then　just　looked　at　him　hopefully。　
Schuster　turned　to　me　and　said：　〃He's　got　something　else；　Mr。　Edgebe。　A　prayer　I　can't　help　him　with；　because　of　my　faith。　Is　it　all　right？〃　
I　looked　at　the　clock　on　the　wall　and　saw　it　was　seventeen　minutes　to　midnight。　〃Yes；〃　I　said；　〃but　it'll　have　to　be　quick。　We've　got　a　schedule　to　keep　here；　you　know。〃　
〃Yes。　I　do。〃　He　turned　to　Delacroix　and　gave　him　a　nod。　
Del　closed　his　eyes　as　if　to　pray；　but　for　a　moment　said　nothing。　A　frown　creased　his　forehead　and　I　had　a　sense　of　him　reaching　far　back　in　his　mind；　as　a　man　may　search　a　small　attic　room　for　an　object　which　hasn't　been　used　（or　needed）　for　a　long；　long　time。　I　glanced　at　the　clock　again　and　almost　said　something　…　would　have；　if　Brutal　hadn't　twitched　my　sleeve　and　shaken　his　head。　
Then　Del　began；　speaking　softly　but　quickly　in　that　Cajun　which　was　as　round　and　soft　and　sensual　as　a　young　woman's　breast：　〃Marie！　le　vous　salue；　Marie；　oui；　pleine　de　grace；　le　Seigneur　est　avec　vous；　vous　etes　benie　entre　toutes　les　femmes；　et　mon　cher　Jesus；　le　fruit　de　vos　entrailles；　est　beni。〃　He　was　crying　again；　but　I　don't　think　he　knew　it。　〃Sainte　Marie；6　ma　mere；　Mere　de　Dieu；　priez　pour　moi；　priez　pour　nous；　pauv'　pecheurs；　maint'ant　et　l'heure　。。。　l'heure　de　notre　mort。　L'heure　de　mon　mort。〃　He　took　a　deep；　shuddering　breath。　〃Ainsi　soit…il。〃　
Lightning　spilled　through　the　room's　one　window　in　a　brief　blue…white　glare　as　Delacroix　got　to　his　feet。　Everyone　jumped　and　cringed　except　for　Del　himself；　he　still　seemed　lost　in　the　old　prayer。　He　reached　out　with　one　hand；　not　looking　to　see　where　it　went。　Brutal　took　it　and　squeezed　it　briefly。　Delacroix　looked　at　him　and　smiled　a　little。　〃Nous　voyons　…　〃　he　began；　then　stopped。　With　a　conscious　effort；　he　switched　back　to　English。　〃We　can　go　now；　Boss　Howell；　Boss　Edgebe。　I'm　right　wit　God；〃　
〃That's　good；〃　I　said；　wondering　how　right　with　God　Del　was　going　to　feel　twenty　minutes　from　now；　when　he　stood　on　the　other　side　of　the　electricity。　I　hoped　his　last　prayer　had　been　heard；　and　that　Mother　Mary　was　praying　for　him　with　all　her　heart　and　soul；　because　Eduard　Delacroix；　rapist　and　murderer；　right　then　needed　all　the　praying　he　could　get　his　hands　on。　Outside；　thunder　bashed　across　the　sky　again。　〃e　on；　Del。　Not　far　now。〃　
〃Fine；　boss；　dat　fine。　Because　I　ain't　ascairt　no　more。〃　So　he　said；　but　I　saw　in　his　eyes　that　…　Our　Father　or　no　Our　Father；　Hail　Mary　or　no　Hail　Mary　…　he　lied。　By　the　time　they　cross　the　rest　of　the　green　carpet　and　duck　through　the　little　door；　almost　all　of　them　are　scared。　
〃Stop　at　the　bottom；　Del；〃　I　told　him　in　a　low　voice　as　he　went　through；　but　it　was　advice　I　needn't　have　given　him。　He　stopped　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs；　all　right；　stopped　cold；　and　what　did　it　was　the　sight　of　Percy　Wetmore　standing　there　on　the　platform；　with　the　sponge…bucket　by　one　foot　and　the　phone　that　went　to　the　governor　just　visible　beyond　his　right　hip。　
〃Non；〃　Del　said　in　a　low；　horrified　voice。　〃Non；　non；　not　him！〃　
〃Walk　on；〃　Brutal　said。　〃You　just　keep　your　eyes　on　me　and　Paul。　Forget　he's　there　at　all。〃　
〃But…〃　
People　had　turned　to　look　at　us；　but　by　moving　my　body　a　bit；　I　could　still　grip　Delacroix's　left　elbow　without　being　seen。　〃Steady；〃　I　said　in　a　voice　only　Del　…　and　perhaps　Brutal　…　could　hear。　〃The　only　thing　most　of　these　people　will　remember　about　you　is　how　you　go　out；　so　give　them　something　good。〃　
The　loudest　crack　of　thunder　yet　broke　overhead　at　that　moment；　loud　enough　to　make　the　storage　room's　tin　roof　vibrate。　Percy　jumped　as　if　someone　had　goosed　him；　and　Del　gave　a　small；　contemptuous　snort　of　laughter。　〃It　get　much　louder　dan　dat；　he　gonna　piddle　in　his　pants　again；〃　he　said；　and　then　squared　his　shoulders　…　not　that　he　had　much　to　square。　〃e　on。　Let's　get　it　over。〃　
We　walked　to　the　platform。　Delacroix　ran　a　nervous　eye　over　the　witnesses　…　about　twenty…five　of　them　this　time　…　as　we　went；　but　Brutal；　Dean；　and　I　kept　our　own　eyes　trained　on　the　chair。　All　looked　in　order　to　me。　I　raised　one　thumb　and　a　questioning　eyebrow　to　Percy；　who　gave　a　little　one…sided　grimace；　as　if　to　say　What　do　you　mean；　is　everything　all　right？　Of　course　it　is。　
I　hoped　he　was　right。　
Brutal　and　I　reached　automatically　for　Delacroix's　elbows　as　he　stepped　up　onto　the　platform。　It's　only　eight　or　so　inches　up　from　the　floor；　but　you'd　be　surprised　how　many　of　them；　even　the　toughest　of　tough　babies；　need　help　to　make　that　last　step　up　of　their　lives。　
Del　did　okay；　though。　He　stood　in　front　of　the　chair　for　a　moment　（resolutely　not　looking　at　Percy）；　then　actually　spoke　to　it；　as　if　introducing　himself：　〃C'est　moi；〃　he　said。　Percy　reached　for　him；　but　Delacroix　turned　around　on　his　own　and　sat　down。　I　knelt　on　what　was　now　his　left　side；　and　Brutal　knelt　on　his　right。　I　guarded　my　crotch　and　my　throat　in　the　manner　I　have　already　described；　then　swung　the　clamp　in　so　that　its　open　jaws　encircled　the　skinny　white　flesh　just　above　the　Cajun's　ankle。　Thunder　bellowed　and　I　jumped。　Sweat　ran　in　my　eye；　stinging。　Mouseville；　I　kept　thinking　for　some　reason。　Mouseville；　and　how　it　cost　a　dime　to　get　in。　Two　cents　for　the　kiddies；　who　would　look　at　Mr。　Jingles　through　his　ivy…glass　windows。　
The　clamp　was　balky；　wouldn't　shut。　I　could　hear　Del　breathing　in　great　dry　pulls　of　air；　lungs　that　would　be　charred　bags　less　than　four　minutes　from　now　laboring　to　keep　up　with　his　fear…driven　heart。　The　fact　that　he　had　killed　half　a　dozen　people　seemed　at　that　moment　the　least　important　thing　about　him。　I'm　not　trying　to　say　anything　about　right　and　wrong　here；　but　only　to　tell　how　it　was。　
Dean　knelt　next　to　me　and　whispered；　〃What's　wrong；　Paul？〃　
〃I　can't……〃　I　began；　and　then　the　clamp　closed　with　an　audible　snapping　sound。　It　must　have　also　pinched　a　fold　of　Delacroixs　skin　in　its　jaws；　because　he　flinched　and　made　a　little　hissing　noise。　〃Sorry；〃　I　said。　
〃It　okay；　boss；〃　Del　said。　〃It　only　gonna　hurt　for　a　minute。〃　
Brutal's　side　had　the　clamp　with　the　electrode　in　it；　which　always　took　a　little　longer；　and　so　we　stood　up；　all　three　of　us；　at　almost　exactly　the　same　time。　Dean　reached　for　the　wrist…clamp　on　Del's　left；　and　Percy　went　to　the　one　on　his　right。　I　was　ready　to　move　forward　if　Percy　should　need　help；　but　he　did　better　with　his　wrist…clamp　than　I'd　done　with　my　ankle…clamp。　I　could　see　Del　trembling　all　over　now；　as　if　a　low　current　were　already　passing　through　him。　I　could　smell　his　s