绿里奇迹(英文版)-第45章

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The　sound　was　a　sharp　snap；　like　a　breaking　branch。　Dean　gasped。　Percy　stared　at　me　in　utter　shock；　his　eyes　so　wide　they　looked　as　if　they　must　fall　out　of　their　sockets。　His　mouth　opened　and　closed；　opened　and　closed；　like　the　mouth　of　a　fish　in　an　aquarium　tank。　
〃Shut　up　and　listen　to　me；〃　I　said。　〃You　deserved　to　be　punished　for　what　you　did　to　Del；　and　we　gave　you　what　you　deserved。　This　was　the　only　way　we　could　do　it。　We　all　agreed；　except　for　Dean；　and　he'll　go　along　with　us；　because　we'll　make　him　sorry　if　he　doesn't。　Isn't　that　so；　Dean？〃　
〃Yes；〃　Dean　whispered。　He　was　milk…pale。　〃Guess　it　is。〃　
〃And　we'll　make　you　sorry　you　were　ever　born；〃　
I　went　on。　〃We'll　see　that　people　know　about　how　you　sabotaged　the　Delacroix　execution　…　〃　
〃Sabotaged…！〃　
〃how　you　almost　got　Dean　killed。　We'll　blab　enough　to　keep　you　out　of　almost　any　job　your　uncle　can　get　you。〃　
Percy　was　shaking　his　head　furiously。　He　didn't　believe　that；　perhaps　couldn't　believe　that。　My　handprint　stood　out　on　his　pale　cheek　like　a　fortune…teller's　sign。　
〃And　no　matter　what；　we'd　see　you　beaten　within　an　inch　of　your　life。　We　wouldn't　have　to　do　it　ourselves。　We　know　people；　too；　Percy；　are　you　so　foolish　you　don't　realize　that？　They　aren't　up　in　the　state　capital；　but　they　still　know　how　to　legislate　certain　matters。　These　are　people　who　have　friends　in　here；　people　who　have　brothers　in　here；　people　who　have　fathers　in　here。　They'd　be　happy　to　amputate　the　nose　or　the　penis　of　a　shitheels　like　you。　They'd　do　it　just　so　someone　they　care　for　could　get　an　extra　three　hours　in　the　exercise　yard　each　week。〃　
Percy　had　stopped　shaking　his　head。　Now　he　was　only　staring。　Tears　stood　in　his　eyes；　but　didn't　fall。　I　think　they　were　tears　of　rage　and　frustration。　Or　maybe　I　just　hoped　they　were。　
〃Okay　…　now　look　on　the　sunny　side；　Percy。　Your　lips　sting　a　little　from　having　the　tape　pulled　off　them；　I　imagine；　but　otherwise　there's　nothing　hurt　but　your　pride　。。。　and　nobody　needs　to　know　about　that　but　the　people　in　this　room　right　now。　And　we'll　never　tell；　will　we；　boys？〃　
They　shook　their　heads。　〃Course　not；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Green　Mile　business　stays　on　the　Green　Mile。　Always　has。〃　
〃You're　going　on　to　Briar　Ridge　and　we're　going　to　leave　you　alone　until　you　go；〃　I　said。　〃Do　you　want　to　leave　it　at　that；　Percy；　or　do　you　want　to　play　hardball　with　us？〃　
There　was　a　long；　long　silence　as　he　considered。　
I　could　almost　see　the　wheels　turning　in　his　head　as　he　tried　out　and　rejected　possible　counters。　And　at　last；　I　think　a　more　basic　truth　must　have　overwhelmed　the　rest　of　his　calculations：　the　tape　was　off　his　mouth；　but　he　was　still　wearing　the　straitjacket　and　probably　he　had　to　piss　like　a　racehorse。　
〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃We'll　consider　the　matter　closed。　Now　get　me　out　of　this　coat。　It　feels　like　my　shoulders　are　…　〃　
Brutal　stepped　forward；　shouldering　me　aside；　and　grabbed　Percy's　face　with　one　big　hand　…　fingers　denting　in　Percy's　right　cheek；　thumb　making　a　deep　dimple　in　his　left。　
〃In　a　few　seconds；〃　he　said。　〃First；　you　listen　to　me。　Paul　here　is　the　big　boss；　and　so　he　has　to　talk　elegant　sometimes。〃　
I　tried　to　remember　anything　elegant　I　might've　said　to　Percy　and　couldn't　e　up　with　much。　Still；　I　thought　it　might　be　best　to　keep　my　mouth　shut；　Percy　looked　suitably　terrorized；　and　I　didn't　want　to　spoil　the　effect。　
〃People　don't　always　understand　that　being　elegant　isn't　the　same　as　being　soft；　and　that's　where　I　e　in。　I　don't　worry　about　being　elegant。　I　just　say　things　straight　out。　So　here　it　is；　straight　out：　if　you　go　back　on　your　promise；　we'll　most　likely　take　an　ass…fucking。　But　then　we'll　find　you　…　if　we　have　to　go　all　the　way　to　Russia；　we'll　find　you　…　and　we　will　fuck　you；　not　just　up　the　ass　but　in　every　hole　you　own。　We'll　fuck　you　until　you'll　wish　you　were　dead；　and　then　we'll　rub　vinegar　in　the　parts　that　are　bleeding。　Do　you　understand　me？〃　
He　nodded。　With　Brutal's　hand　digging　into　the　soft　sides　of　his　face　the　way　it　was；　Percy　looked　eerily　like　Old　Toot…Toot。　
Brutal　let　go　of　him　and　stepped　back。　I　nodded　to　Harry；　who　went　behind　Percy　and　started　unsnapping　and　unbuckling。　
〃Keep　it　in　mind；　Percy；〃　Harry　said。　〃Keep　it　in　mind　and　let　bygones　be　bygones。〃　
All　of　it　suitably　scary；　three　bogeymen　in　bluesuits　…　but　I　felt　a　kind　of　knowing　despair　sweep　through　me；　all　the　same。　He　might　keep　quiet　for　a　day　or　a　week；　continuing　to　calculate　the　odds　on　various　actions；　but　in　the　end　two　things　…　his　belief　in　his　connections　and　his　inability　to　walk　away　from　a　situation　where　he　saw　himself　as　the　loser　would　bine。　When　that　happened；　he　would　spill　his　guts。　We　had　perhaps　helped　to　save　Melly　Moores's　life　by　taking　John　to　her；　and　I　wouldn't　have　changed　that　（〃not　for　all　the　tea　in　China；〃　as　we　used　to　say　back　in　those　days）；　but　in　the　end　we　were　going　to　hit　the　canvas　and　the　ref　was　going　to　count　us　out。　Short　of　murder；　there　was　no　way　we　could　make　Percy　keep　his　end　of　the　bargain；　not　once　he　was　away　from　us　and　had　started　to　get　back　what　passed　for　his　guts。　
I　took　a　little　sidelong　glance　at　Brutal　and　saw　he　knew　this；　too。　Which　didn't　surprise　me。　There　were　no　flies　on　Mrs。　Howell's　boy　Brutus；　never　had　been。　He　gave　me　a　tiny　shrug；　just　one　shoulder　lifting　an　inch　and　then　dropping；　but　it　was　enough。　So　what？　that　shrug　said。　What　else　is　there；　Paul？　We　did　what　we　had　to　do；　and　we　did　it　the　best　we　could。　
Yes。　Results　hadn't　been　half…bad；　either。　
Harry　undid　the　last　buckle　on　the　straitjacket。　Grimacing　with　disgust　and　rage；　Percy　pawed　it　off　and　let　it　drop　at　his　feet。　He　wouldn't　look　at　any　of　us；　not　directly。　
〃Give　me　my　gun　and　my　baton；〃　he　said。　I　handed　them　over。　He　dropped　the　gun　into　its　holster　and　shoved　the　hickory　stick　into　its　custom　loop。　
〃Percy；　if　you　think　about　it　…　〃　
〃Oh；　I　intend　to；〃　he　said；　brushing　past　me。　〃I　intend　to　think　about　it　very　hard。　Starting　right　now。　On　my　way　home。　One　of　you　boys　can　clock　me　out　at　quitting　time。〃　He　reached　the　door　of　the　restraint　room　and　turned　to　survey　us　with　a　look　of　angry；　embarrassed　contempt　…　a　deadly　bination　for　the　secret　we'd　had　some　fool's　hope　of　keeping。　
〃Unless；　of　course；　you　want　to　try　explaining　why　I　left　early。〃　
He　left　the　room　and　went　striding　up　the　Green　Mile；　forgetting　in　his　agitation　why　that　green　floored　central　corridor　was　so　wide。　He　had　mad　this　mistake　once　before　and　had　gotten　away　with　it。　He　would　not　get　away　with　it　again。　
I　followed　him　out　the　door；　trying　to　think　of　a　way　to　soothe　him　down　…　I　didn't　want　him　leaving　E　Block　the　way　he　was　now；　sweaty　and　dishevelled；　with　the　red　print　of　my　hand　still　on　his　cheek。　The　other　three　followed　me。　
What　happened　then　happened　very　fast　…　it　was　all　over　in　no　more　than　a　minute；　perhaps　even　less。　Yet　I　remember　all　of　it　to　this　day　…　mostly；　I　think；　because　I　told　Janice　everything　when　I　got　home　and　that　set　it　in　my　mind。　What　happened　afterward　…　the　dawn　meeting　with　Curtis　Anderson；　the　inquest；　the　press…meeting　Hal　Moores　set　up　for　us　（he　was　back　by　then；　of　course）；　and　the　eventual　Board　of　Enquiry　in　the　state　capital　…　those　things　have　blurred　over　the　years　like　so　much　else　in　my　memory。　But　as　to　what　actually　happened　next　there　on　the　Green　Mile；　yes；　that　I　remember　perfectly　well。　
Percy　was　walking　up　the　right　side　of　the　Mile　with　his　head　lowered；　and　I'll　say　this　much：　no　ordinary　Prisoner　could　have　reached　him。　John　Coffey　wasn't　an　ordinary　prisoner；　though。　John　Coffey　was　a　giant；　and　he　had　a　giant's　reach。　
I　saw　his　long　brown　arms　shoot　out　from　between　the　bars　and　yelled；　〃Watchit；　Percy；　watch　it！〃　Percy　started　to　turn；　his　left　hand　dropping　to　the　butt　of　his　stick。　Then　he　was　seized　and　yanked　against　the　front　of　John　Coffey's　cell；　the　right　side　of　his　face　smashing　into　the　bars。　
He　grunted　and　turned　toward　Coffey；　raising　the　hickory　club。　John　was　certainly　vulnerable　to　it；　his　own　face　was　pressed　so　strenuously　into　the　space　between　two　of　the　center　bars　that　he　looked　as　if　he　was　trying　to　squeeze　his　entire　head　through。　It　would　have　been　impossible；　of　course；　but　that　was　how　it　looked。　His　right　hand　groped；　found　the　nape　of　Percy's　neck；　curled　around　it；　and　yanked　Percy's　head　forward。　Percy　brought　the　club　down　between　the　bars　and　onto　John　's　temple。　Blood　flowed；　but　John　paid　no　attention。　His　mouth　pressed　against　Percy's　mouth。　I　heard　a　whispering　rush　…　an　exhalatory　sound；　as　of　long…held　breath。　Percy　jerked　like　a　fish　on　a　hook；　trying　to　get　away；　but　he　never　had　a　chance；　John　's　right　hand　was　pressed　to　the　back　of　his　neck；　holding　him　firm。　Their　faces　seemed　to　melt　together；　like　the　faces　of　lovers　I　have　seen　kissing　passionately　through　bars。　
Percy　screamed；　the　sound　muffled　as　it　had　been　through　the　tape；　and　made　another　effort　to　pull　back。　For　an　instant　their　lips　came　apart　a　little；　and　I　saw　the　black；　swirling　tide　that　was　flowing　out　of　John　Coffey　and　into　Percy　Wetmore。　What　wasn't　going　into　him　through　his　quivering　mouth　was　flowing　in　by　way　of　his　nostrils。　Then　the　hand　on　the　nape　of　his　neck　flexed；　and　Percy　was　pulled　forward　onto　John　's　mouth　again；　was　almost　impaled　on　it。　
Percy's　left　hand　sprang　open。　His　treasured　hickory　baton　fell　to　the　green　linoleum。　He　never　picked　it　up　again。　
I　tried　to　lunge　forward；　I　guess　I　did　lunge　forward；　but　my　movements　felt　old　and　creaky　to　myself。　I　grabbed　for　my　gun；　but　the　strap　was　still　across　the　burled…walnut　grip；　and　at　first　I　couldn't　get　it　out　of　its　holster。　Beneath　me；　I　seemed　to　feel　the　floor　shake　as　it　had　in　the　back　bedroom　of　the　Warden's　neat　little　Cape　Cod。　That　I'm　not　sure　of；　but　I　know　that　one　of　the　caged　lightbulbs　overhead　broke。　Fragments　of　glass　showered　down。　Harry　yelled　in　surprise。　
At　last　I　managed　to　thumb　loose　the　safety　strap　over　the　butt　of　my　。38；　but　before　I　could　pull　it　out　of　its　holster；　John　had　thrust　Percy　away　from　him　and　stepped　back　into　his　cell。　John　was　grimacing　and　rubbing　his　mouth；　as　if　he　had　tasted　something　bad。　
〃What'd　he　do？〃　Brutal　shouted。　〃What'd　he　do；　Paul？〃　
〃Whatever　he　took　out　of　Melly；　Percy's　got　it　now；〃　I　said。　
Percy　was　standing　against　the　bars　of　Delacroix's　old　cell。　His　eyes　were　wide　and　blank…double　zeros。　I　approached　him　carefully；　expecting　him　to　start　coughing　and　choking　the　way　John　had　after　he'd　finished　with　Melinda；　but　he　didn't。　At　first　he　only　stood　there。　
I　snapped　my　fingers　in　front　of　his　eyes。　〃Percy！　Hey；　Percy！　Wake　up！〃　
Nothing。　Brutal　joined　me；　and　reached　toward　Percy's　empty　face　with　both　hands。　
〃That　isn't　going　to　work；〃　I　said。　
Ignoring　me；　Brutal　clapped　his　hands　sharply　together　twice；　right　in　front　of　Percy's　nose。　And　it　did　work；　or　appeared　to　work。　His　eyelids　fluttered　and　he　stared　around　…dazed；　like　someone　hit　over　the　head　struggling　back　to　consciousness。　He　looked　from　Brutal　to　me。　All　these　years　later；　I'm　pretty　sure　he　didn't　see　either　of　us；　but　I　thought　he　did　then；　I　thought　he　was　ing　out　of　it。　
He　pushed　away　from　the　bars　and　swayed　a　little　on　his　feet。　Brutal　steadied　him。　〃Easy；　boy；　you　all　right？〃　Percy　didn't　answer；　just　stepped　past　Brutal　and　turned　toward　the　duty　desk。　He　wasn't　staggering；　exactly；　but　he　was　listing　to　port。　
Brutal　reached　out　for　him。　I　pushed　his　hand　away。　〃Leave　him　alone。〃　Would　I　have　said　the　same　if　I'd　known　what　was　going　to　happen　next？　I've　asked　myself　that　question　a　thousand　times　since　the　fall　of　1932。　There's　never　any　answer。　
Percy　made　twelve　or　fourteen　paces；　then　stopped　again；　head　lowered。　He　was　outside　of　Wild　Bill　Wharton's　cell　by　then。　Wharton　was　still　making　those　sousaphone　noises。　He　slept　through　the　whole　thing。　He　slept　through　his　own　death；　now　that　I　think　of　it；　which　made　him　a　lot　luckier　than　most　of　the　men　who　ended　up　here。　Certainly　luckier　than　he　deserved。　
Before　we　knew　what　was　happening；　Percy　drew　his　gun；　stepped　to　the　bars　of　Wharton's　cell；　and　emptied　all　six　shots　into　the　sleeping　man〃　just　bam…bam…bam；　bam…bam…bam；　as　fast　as　he　could　pull　the　trigger。　The　sound　in　that　enclosed　space　was　deafening；　when　I　told　Janice　the　story　the　next　morning；　I　could　still　hardly　hear　the　sound　of　my　own　voice　for　the　ringing　in　my　ears。　
We　ran　at　him；　all　four　of　us。　Dean　got　there　first　…　I　don't　know　how；　as　he　was　behind　Brutal　and　me　when　Coffey　had　hold　of　Percy　…　but　he　did。　He　grabbed　Percy's　wrist；　prepared　to　wrestle　the　gun　out　of　Percy's　hand；　but　he　didn't　have　to。　Percy　just　let　go；　and　the　gun　fell　to　the　floor。　His　eyes　went　across　us　like　they　were　skates　and　we　were　ice。　There　was　a　low　hissing　sound　and　a　sharp　ammoniac　smell　as　Percy's　bladder　let　go；　then　a　brrrap　sound　and　a　thicker　stink　as　he　filled　the　other　side　of　his　pants；　as　well。　His　eyes　had　settled　on　a　far　corner　of　the　corridor。　They　were　eyes　that　never　saw　anything　in　this　real　world　of　ours　again；　so　far　as　I　know。　Back　near　the　beginning　of　this　I　wrote　that　Percy　was　at　Briar　Ridge　by　the　time　that　Brutal　found　the　colored　slivers　of　Mr。　Jingles's　spool　a　couple　of　months　later；　and　I　didn't　lie　about　that。　He　never