绿里奇迹(英文版)-第38章

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zed　book　which　had　been　hidden　inside　it　popped　out。　No　wonder　Percy　had　looked　guilty　when　we　came　in。　It　wasn't　The　Last　Days　of　Sodom　and　Gomorrah；　but　it　was　the　one　we　sometimes　gave　to　inmates　who　were　feeling　especially　horny　and　who　had　been　well…behaved　enough　to　deserve　a　treat。　I've　mentioned　it；　I　think　…　the　little　cartoon　book　where　Olive　Oyl　does　everybody　except　Sweet　Pea；　the　kid。　
I　found　it　sad　that　Percy　had　been　in　my　office　and　pursuing　such　pallid　porn；　and　Harry　…　what　I　could　see　of　him　from　over　Percy's　straining　shoulder　…　looked　mildly　disgusted；　but　Brutal　hooted　with　laughter；　and　that　took　the　fight　out　of　Percy；　at　least　for　the　time　being。　
〃Oh　Poicy；〃　he　said。　〃What　would　your　mother　say？　For　that　matter；　what　would　the　governor　say？〃　
Percy　was　blushing　a　dark　red。　〃Just　shut　up。　And　leave　my　mother　out　of　it。〃　
Brutal　tossed　me　the　straitjacket　and　pushed　his　face　up　into　Percy's。　〃Sure　thing。　Just　stick　out　your　arms　like　a　good　boy。〃　
Percy's　lips　were　trembling；　and　his　eyes　were　too　bright。　He　was；　I　realized；　on　the　verge　of　tears。　〃I　won't；〃　he　said　in　a　childish；　trembling　voice；　〃and　you　can't　make　me。〃　Then　he　raised　his　voice　and　began　to　scream　for　help。　Harry　winced　and　so　did　I。　If　we　ever　came　close　to　just　dropping　the　whole　thing；　it　was　then。　We　might　have；　except　for　Brutal。　He　never　hesitated。　He　stepped　behind　Percy　so　he　was　shoulder　to　shoulder　with　Harry；　who　still　had　Percy's　hands　pinned　behind　him。　Brutal　reached　up　and　took　Percy's　ears　in　his　hands。　
〃Stop　that　yelling；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Unless　you　want　to　have　a　pair　of　the　world's　most　unique　teabag　caddies。〃　
Percy　quit　yelling　for　help　and　just　stood　there；　trembling　and　looking　down　at　the　cover　of　the　crude　cartoon　book；　which　showed　Popeye　and　Olive　doing　it　in　a　creative　way　I　had　heard　of　but　never　tried。　〃Oooh；　Popeye！〃　read　the　balloon　over　Olive's　head。　〃Uck…uck…uck…uck！〃　read　the　one　over　Popeye's。　He　was　still　smoking　his　pipe。　
〃Hold　out　your　arms；〃　Brutal　said；　〃and　let's　have　no　more　foolishness　about　it。　Do　it　now。〃　
〃I　won't；〃　Percy　said。　〃I　won't；　and　you　can't　make　me。〃　
〃You're　dead　wrong　about　that；　you　know；〃　Brutal　said；　then　clamped　down　on　Percy's　ears　and　twisted　them　the　way　you　might　twist　the　dials　on　an　oven。　An　oven　that　wasn't　cooking　the　way　you　wanted；　Percy　let　out　a　miserable　shriek　of　pain　and　surprise　that　I　would　have　given　a　great　deal　not　to　have　heard。　It　wasn't　just　pain　and　surprise；　you　see；　it　was　understanding。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life；　Percy　was　realizing　that　awful　things　didn't　just　happen　to　other　people；　those　not　fortunate　enough　to　be　related　to　the　governor。　I　wanted　to　tell　Brutal　to　stop；　but　of　course　I　couldn't。　Things　had　gone　much　too　far　for　that。　All　I　could　do　was　to　remind　myself　that　Percy　had　put　Delacroix　through　God　knew　what　agonies　simply　because　Delacroix　had　laughed　at　him。　The　reminder　didn't　go　very　far　toward　soothing　the　way　I　felt。　Perhaps　it　might　have；　if　I'd　been　built　more　along　the　lines　of　Percy。　
〃Stick　those　arms　out　there；　honey；〃　Brutal　said；　〃or　you　get　another。〃　
Harry　had　already　let　go　of　young　Mr。　Wetmore。　Sobbing　like　a　little　kid；　the　tears　which　had　been　standing　in　his　eyes　now　spilling　down　his　cheeks；　Percy　shot　his　hands　out　straight　in　front　of　him；　like　a　sleepwalker　in　a　movie　edy。　I　had　the　sleeves　of　the　straitjacket　up　his　arms　in　a　trice。　I　hardly　had　it　over　his　shoulders　before　Brutal　had　let　go　of　Percy's　ears　and　grabbed　the　straps　hanging　down　from　the　jacket's　cuffs。　He　yanked　Percy's　hands　around　to　his　sides；　so　that　his　arms　were　crossed　tightly　on　his　chest。　Harry；　meanwhile；　did　up　the　back　and　snapped　the　cross…straps。　Once　Percy　gave　m　and　stuck　out　his　arms；　the　whole　thing　took　less　than　ten　seconds。　
〃Okay；　hon；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Forward　harch。〃　
But　he　wouldn't。　He　looked　at　Brutal；　then　turned　his　terrified；　streaming　eyes　on　me。　Nothing　about　his　connections　now；　or　how　we'd　have　to　go　all　the　way　to　South　Carolina　just　to　get　a　free　meal；　he　was　far　past　that。　
〃Please；〃　he　whispered　in　a　hoarse；　wet　voice。　〃Don't　put　me　in　with　him；　Paul。〃　
Then　I　understood　why　he　had　panicked；　why　he'd　fought　us　so　hard。　He　thought　we　were　going　to　put　him　in　with　Wild　Bill　Wharton；　that　his　punishment　for　the　dry　sponge　was　to　be　a　dry　cornholing　from　the　resident　psychopath。　Instead　of　feeling　sympathy　for　Percy　at　this　realization；　I　felt　disgust　and　a　hardening　of　my　resolve。　He　was；　after　all；　judging　us　by　the　way　he　would　have　behaved；　had　our　positions　been　reversed。　
〃Not　Wharton；〃　I　said。　〃The　restraint　room；　Percy。　You're　going　to　spend　three　or　four　hours　in　there；　all　by　yourself　in　the　dark；　thinking　about　what　you　did　to　Del。　It's　probably　too　late　for　you　to　learn　any　new　lessons　about　how　people　are　supposed　to　behave　…　Brute　thinks　so；　anyway　…　but　I'm　an　optimist。　Now　move。〃　
He　did；　muttering　under　his　breath　that　we'd　be　sorry　for　this；　plenty　sorry；　just　wait　and　see；　but　on　the　whole　he　seemed　relieved　and　reassured。　
When　we　herded　him　out　into　the　hall；　Dean　gave　us　a　look　of　such　wide…eyed　surprise　and　dewy　innocence　that　I　could　have　laughed；　if　the　business　hadn't　been　so　serious。　I've　seen　better　acting　in　backwoods　Grange　revues。　
〃Say；　don't　you　think　the　joke's　gone　far　enough？〃　Dean　asked。　
〃You　just　shut　up；　if　you　know　what's　good　for　you；〃　Brutal　growled。　These　were　lines　we'd　scripted　at　lunch；　and　that　was　just　what　they　sounded　like　to　me；　scripted　lines；　but　if　Percy　was　scared　enough　and　confused　enough；　they　still　might　save　Dean　Stanton's　job　in　a　pinch。　I　myself　didn't　think　so；　but　anything　was　possible。　Any　time　I've　doubted　that；　then　or　since；　I　just　think　about　John　Coffey；　and　Delacroix's　mouse。　
We　ran　Percy　down　the　Green　Mile；　him　stumbling　and　gasping　for　us　to　slow　down；　he　was　going　to　go　flat　on　his　face　if　we　didn't　slow　down。　Wharton　was　on　his　bunk；　but　we　went　by　too　fast　for　me　to　see　if　he　was　awake　or　asleep。　John　Coffey　was　standing　at　his　cell　door　and　watching。　〃You're　a　bad　man　and　you　deserve　to　go　in　that　dark　place；〃　he　said；　but　I　don't　think　Percy　heard　him。　
Into　the　restraint　room　we　went；　Percy's　cheeks　red　and　wet　with　tears；　his　eyes　rolling　into　their　sockets；　his　pampered　locks　all　flopping　down　on　his　forehead。　Harry　pulled　Percy's　gun　with　one　hand　and　his　treasured　hickory；　head…knocker　with　the　other。　〃You'll　get　em　back；　don't　worry；〃　Harry　said。　He　sounded　a　trifle　embarrassed。　
〃I　wish　I　could　say　the　same　about　your　job；〃　
Percy　replied。　〃All　your　jobs。　You　can't　do　this　to　me！　You　can't！〃　
He　was　obviously　prepared　to　go　on　in　that　vein　for　quite　awhile；　but　we　didn't　have　time　to　listen　to　his　sermon。　In　my　pocket　was　a　roll　of　friction…tape；　the　thirties　ancestor　of　the　strapping…tape　folks　use　today。　Percy　saw　it　and　started　to　back　away。　Brutal　grabbed　him　from　behind　and　hugged　him　until　I　had　slapped　the　tape　over　his　mouth；　winding　the　roll　around　to　the　back　of　his　head；　just　to　be　sure。　He　was　going　to　have　a　few　less　swatches　of　hair　when　the　tape　came　off；　and　a　pair　of　seriously　chapped　lips　into　the　bargain；　but　I　no　longer　much　cared；　I'd　had　a　gutful　of　Percy　Wetmore。　
We　backed　away　from　him。　He　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　under　the　caged　light；　wearing　the　straitjacket；　breathing　through　flared　nostrils；　and　making　muffled　mmmph！　mmmph！　sounds　from　behind　the　tape。　All　in　all；　he　looked　as　crazy　as　any　other　prisoner　we'd　ever　jugged　in　that　room。　
〃The　quieter　you　are；　the　sooner　you　get　out；〃　I　said。　〃Try　to　remember　that；　Percy。…〃　
〃And　if　you　get　lonely；　think　about　Olive　Oyl；〃　Harry　advised。　〃Uck…uck…uck…uck。〃　
Then　we　went　out。　I　closed　the　door　and　Brutal　locked　it。　Dean　was　standing　a　little　way　up　the　Mile；　just　outside　of　Coffey's　cell。　He　had　already　put　the　master　key　in　the　top　lock。　The　four　of　us　looked　a　each　other；　no　one　saying　anything。　There　was　no　need　to。　We　had　started　the　machinery；　all　we　could　do　now　was　hope　that　it　ran　the　course　we　had　laid　out　instead　of　jumping　the　tracks　somewhere　along　the　line。　
〃You　still　want　to　go　for　that　ride；　John？〃　Brutal　asked；　
〃Yes；　sir；〃　Coffey　said。　〃I　reckon。〃　
〃Good；〃　Dean　said。　He　turned　the　first　lock；　removed　the　key；　and　seated　it　in　the　second。　
〃Do　we　need　to　chain　you　up；　John？〃　I　asked。　
Coffey　appeared　to　think　about　this。　〃Can　if　you　want　to；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃Don't　need　to。〃　
I　nodded　at　Brutal；　who　opened　the　cell　door；　then　turned　to　Harry；　who　was　more　or　less　pointing　Percy's　。45　at　Coffey　as　Coffey　emerged　from　his　cell。　
〃Give　those　to　Dean；〃　I　said。　
Harry　blinked　like　someone　awakening　from　a　momentary　doze；　saw　Percy's　gun　and　stick　still　in　his　hands；　and　passed　them　over　to　Dean。　Coffey；　meanle；　hulked　in　the　corridor　with　his　bald　skull　almost　brushing　one　of　the　caged　overhead　lights。　
Standing　there　with　his　hands　in　front　of　him　and　his　shoulders　sloped　forward　to　either　side　of　his　barrel　chest；　he　made　me　think　again；　as　I　had　the　first　time　I　saw　him；　of　a　huge　captured　bear。　
〃Lock　Percy's　toys　in　the　duty　desk　until　we　get　back；〃　I　said。　
〃If　we　get　back；〃　Harry　added。　
〃I　will；〃　Dean　said　to　me；　taking　no　notice　of　Harry。　
〃And　if　someone　shows　up　…　probably　no　one　will；　but　if　someone　does　…　what　do　you　say？〃　
〃That　Coffey　got　upset　around　midnight；〃　Dean　said。　He　looked　as　studious　as　a　college　student　taking　a　big　exam。　〃We　had　to　give　him　the　jacket　and　but　him　in　the　restraint　room。　If　there's　noise；　who　ever　hears　it'll　just　think　it's　him。〃　He　raised　his　chin　to　John　Coffey。　〃And　what　about　us？〃　Brutal　asked。　〃Paul's　over　in　Admin；　pulling　Del's　file　and　going　over　the　witnesses；〃　Dean　said。　〃It's　especially　important　this　time；　because　the　execution　was　such　a　balls…up。　He　said　he'd　probably　be　there　the　rest　of　the　shift。　You　and　Harry　and　Percy　are　over　in　the　laundry；　washing　your　clothes。〃　
Well；　that　was　what　folks　said；　anyway。　There　was　a　crap…game　in　the　laundry　supply　room　some　nights；　on　others　it　was　blackjack　or　poker　or　acey…deucey。　Whatever　it　was；　the　guards　who　participated　were　said　to　be　washing　their　clothes。　There　was　usually　moonshine　at　these　get…togethers；　and　on　occasion　a　joystick　would　go　around　the　circle。　It's　been　the　same　in　prisons　since　prisons　were　invented；　I　suppose。　When　you　spend　your　life　taking　care　of　mudmen；　you　can't　help　getting　a　little　dirty　yourself。　In　any　case；　we　weren't　likely　to　be　checked　up　on。　〃Clothes　washing〃　was　treated　with　great　discretion　at　Cold　Mountain。　
〃Right　with　Eversharp；〃　I　said；　turning　Coffey　around　and　putting　him　in　motion。　〃And　if　it　all　falls　down；　Dean；　you。　don't　know　nothing　about　nothing。〃　
〃That's　easy　to　say；　but　…　〃　
At　that　moment；　a　skinny　arm　shot　out　from　between　the　bars　of　Wharton's　cell　and　grabbed　Coffey's　slab　of　a　bicep。　We　all　gasped。　Wharton　should　have　been　dead　to　the　world；　all　but　atose；　yet　here　he　stood；　swaying　back　and　forth　on　his　feet　like　a　hard…tagged　fighter；　grinning　blearily。　
Coffey's　reaction　was　remarkable。　He　didn't　pull　away；　but　he　also　gasped；　pulling　air　in　over　his　teeth　like　someone　who　has　touched　something　cold　and　unpleasant。　His　eyes　widened；　and　for　a　moment　he　looked　as　if　he　and　dumb　had　never　even　met；　let　alone　got　up　together　every　morning　and　lain　down　together　every　night。　He　had　looked　alive　…　there　…　when　he　had　wanted　me　to　e　into　his　cell　so　he　could　touch　me。　Help　me；　in　Coffeyspeak。　He　had　looked　that　way　again　when　he'd　been　holding　his　hands　out　for　the　mouse。　Now；　for　the　third　time；　his　face　had　lit　up；　as　if　a　spotlight　had　suddenly　been　turned　on　inside　his　brain。　Except　it　was　different　this　time。　It　was　colder　this　time；　and　for　the　first　time　I　wondered　what　might　happen　if　John　Coffey　were　suddenly　to　run　amok。　We　had　our　guns；　we　could　shoot　him；　but　actually　taking　him　down　might　not　be　easy　to　do。　
I　saw　similar　thoughts　on　Brutal's　face；　but　Wharton　just　went　on　grinning　his　stoned；　loose…lipped　grin　…　〃Where　do　you　think　you're　going？〃　he　asked。　It　came　out　something　like　Wherra　fink　yerr　gone？　
Coffey　stood　still；　looking　first　at　Wharton；　then　at　Wharton's　hand；　then　back　into　Wharton's　face。　I　could　not　read　that　expression。　I　mean　I　could　see　the　intelligence　in　it；　but　I　couldn't　read　it。　As　for　Wharton；　I　wasn't　worried　about　him　at　all。　He　wouldn't　remember　any　of　this　later；　he　was　like　a　drunk　walking　in　a　blackout。　
〃You're　a　bad　man；〃　Coffey　whispered；　and　I　couldn't　tell　what　I　heard　in　his　voice　…　pain　or　anger　or　fear。　Maybe　all　three。　Coffey　looked　down　at　the　hand　on　his　arm　again；　the　way　you　might　look　at　a　bug　which　could　give　you　a　really　nasty　bite；　had　it　a　mind。　
〃That's　right；　nigger；〃　Wharton　said　with　a　bleary；　cocky　smile。　〃Bad　as　you'd　want。〃　
I　was　suddenly　positive　that　something　awful　was　going　to　happen；　something　that　would　change　the　planned　course　of　this　early　morning　as　pletely　as　a　cataclysmic　earthquake　can　change　the　course　of　a　river。　It　was　going　to　happen；　and　nothing　I　or　any　of　us　did　would　stop　it。　
Then　Brutal　reached　down；　plucked　Wharton's　hand　off　John　Coffey's　arm；　and　that　feeling　stopped。　It　was　as　if　some　potentially　dangerous　circuit　had　been　broken。　I　told　you　that　in　my　time　in　E　Block；　the　governor's　l