绿里奇迹(英文版)-第46章

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es's　spool　a　couple　of　months　later；　and　I　didn't　lie　about　that。　He　never　got　the　office　with　the　fan　in　the　er；　though；　never　got　a　bunch　of　lunatic　patients　to　push　around；　either。　But　I　imagine　he　at　least　got　his　own　private　room。　
He　had　connections；　after　all。　
Wharton　was　lying　on　his　side　with　his　back　against　the　wall　of　his　cell。　I　couldn't　see　much　then　but　a　lot　of　blood　soaking　into　the　sheet　and　splattered　across　the　cement；　but　the　coroner　said　Percy　had　shot　like　Annie　Oakley。　Remembering　Dean's　story　of　how　Percy　had　thrown　his　hickory　baton　at　the　mouse　that　time　and　barely　missed；　I　wasn't　too　surprised。　This　time　the　range　had　been　shorter　and　the　target　not　moving。　One　in　the　groin；　one　in　the　gut；　one　in　the　chest；　three　in　the　head。　
Brutal　was　coughing　and　waving　at　the　haze　of　gunsmoke。　I　was　coughing　myself；　but　hadn't　noticed　it　until　then。　
〃End　of　the　line；〃　Brutal　said。　His　voice　was　calm；　but　there　was　no　mistaking　the　glaze　of　panic　in　his　eyes。　
I　looked　down　the　hallway　and　saw　John　Coffey　sitting　on　the　end　of　his　bunk。　His　hands　were　clasped　between　his　knees　again；　but　his　head　was　up　and　he　no　longer　looked　a　bit　sick。　He　nodded　at　me　slightly；　and　I　surprised　myself　…　as　I　had　on　the　day　I　offered　him　my　hand　…　by　returning　the　nod。　
〃What　are　we　going　to　do？〃　Harry　gibbered。　〃Oh　Christ；　what　are　we　going　to　do？〃　
〃Nothing　we　can　do；〃　Brutal　said　in　that　same　calm　voice。　〃We're　hung。　Aren't　we；　Paul？〃　
My　mind　had　begun　to　move　very　fast。　I　looked　at　Harry　and　Dean；　who　were　staring　at　me　like　scared　kids。　I　looked　at　Percy；　who　was　standing　there　with　his　hands　and　jaw　dangling。　Then　I　looked　at　my　old　friend；　Brutus　Howell。　
〃We're　going　to　be　okay；〃　I　said。　
Percy　at　last　menced　coughing。　He　doubled　over；　hands　on　his　knees；　almost　retching。　His　face　began　to　turn　red。　I　opened　my　mouth；　meaning　to　tell　the　others　to　stand　back；　but　I　never　got　a　chance。　He　made　a　sound　that　was　a　cross　between　a　dry　heave　and　a　bullfrog's　croak；　opened　his　mouth；　and　spewed　out　a　cloud　of　black；　swirling　stuff。　It　was　so　thick　that　for　a　moment　we　couldn't　see　his　head。　Harry　said　〃Oh　God　save　us〃　in　a　weak　and　watery　voice。　Then　the　stuff　turned　a　white　so　dazzling　it　was　like　January　sun　on　fresh　snow。　A　moment　later　the　cloud　was　gone。　Percy　straightened　slowly　up　and　resumed　his　vacant　gaze　down　the　length　of　the　Green　Mile。　
〃We　didn't　see　that；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Did　we；　Paul？〃　
〃No。　I　didn't　and　you　didn't。　Did　you　see　it；　Harry？〃　
〃No；〃　Harry　said。　
〃Dean？〃　
〃See　what？〃　Dean　took　his　glasses　off　and　began　to　polish　them。　I　thought　he　would　drop　them　out　of　his　trembling　hands；　but　he　managed　not　to。　
〃　See　what；　that's　good。　That's　just　the　ticket。　Now　listen　to　your　scoutmaster；　boys；　and　get　it　right　the　first　time；　because　time　is　short。　It's　a　simple　story。　Let's　not　plicate　it。〃　
3。　
I　told　all　this　to　Jan　at　around　eleven　o'clock　that　morning　…　the　next　morning；　I　almost　wrote；　but　of　course　it　was　the　same　day。　The　longest　one　of　my　whole　life；　without　a　doubt。　I　told　it　pretty　much　as　I　have　here；　finishing　with　how　William　Wharton　had　ended　up　lying　dead　on　his　bunk；　riddled　with　lead　from　Percy's　sidearm。　
No；　that's　not　right。　What　I　actually　finished　with　was　the　stuff　that　came　out　of　Percy；　the　bugs　or　the　whatever…it…was。　That　was　a　hard　thing　to　tell；　even　to　your　wife；　but　I　told　it。　
As　I　talked；　she　brought　me　black　coffee　by　the　half…cup　at　first　my　hands　were　shaking　too　badly　to　pick　up　a　whole　one　without　spilling　it。　By　the　time　I　finished；　the　shaking　had　eased　some；　and　I　felt　that　I　could　even　take　some　food　an　egg；　maybe；　or　some　soup。　
〃The　thing　that　saved　us　was　that　we　didn't　really　have　to　lie；　any　of　us。〃　
〃Just　leave　a　few　things　out；〃　she　said；　and　nodded。　〃Little　things；　mostly；　like　how　you　took　a　condemned　murderer　out　of　prison；　and　how　he　cured　a　dying　woman；　and　how　he　drove　that　Percy　Wetmore　crazy　by　…　what？　…　spitting　a　pureed　brain　tumor　down　his　throat？〃　
〃I　don't　know；　Jan；〃　I　said。　〃I　only　know　that　if　you　keep　talking　like　that；　you'll　end　up　either　eating　that　soup　yourself；　or　feeding　it　to　the　dog。〃　
〃I'm　sorry。　But　I'm　right；　aren't　I？〃　
〃Yeah；〃　I　said。　Except　we　got　away　with　the…〃　The　what？　You　couldn't　call　it　an　escape；　and　furlough　wasn't　right；　either。　〃the　field　trip。　Not　even　Percy　can　tell　them　about　that；　if　he　ever　es　back。〃　
〃If　he　es　back；〃　she　echoed。　〃How　likely　is　that？〃　
I　shook　my　head　to　indicate　I　had　no　idea。　But　I　did；　actually；　I　didn't　think　he　was　going　to　e　back；　not　in　1932；　not　in　'42　or　'52；　either。　In　that　I　was　right。　Percy　Wetmore　stayed　at　Briar　Ridge　until　it　burned　flat　in　1944。　Seventeen　inmates　were　killed　in　that　fire；　but　Percy　wasn't　one　of　them。　Still　silent　and　blank　in　every　regard…the　word　I　learned　to　describe　that　state　is　catatonic　…　he　was　led　out　by　one　of　the　guards　long　before　the　fire　reached　his　wing。　He　went　on　to　another　institution　…　I　don't　remember　the　name　and　guess　it　doesn't　matter；　anyway　…　and　died　in　1965。　So　far　as　I　know；　the　last　time　he　ever　spoke　was　when　he　told　us　we　could　clock　him　out　at　quitting　time。。。　unless　we　wanted　to　explain　why　he　had　left　early。　
The　irony　was　that　we　never　had　to　explain　much　of　anything。　Percy　had　gone　crazy　and　shot　William　Wharton　to　death。　That　was　what　we　told；　and　so　far　as　it　went；　every　word　was　true。　When　Anderson　asked　Brutal　how　Percy　had　seemed　before　the　shooting　and　Brutal　answered　with　one　word　…　〃Quiet〃　…　I　had　a　terrible　moment　when　I　felt　that　I　might　burst　out　laughing。　Because　that　was　true；　too；　Percy　had　been　quiet；　for　most　of　his　shift　he'd　had　a　swatch　of　friction…tape　across　his　mouth　and　the　best　he'd　been　able　to　e　up　with　was　mmmph；　mmmph；　mmmph。　
Curtis　kept　Percy　there　until　eight　o'clock；　Percy　as　silent　as　a　cigar…store　Indian　but　a　lot　more　eerie。　By　then　Hal　Moores　had　arrived；　looking　grim　but　petent；　ready　to　climb　back　into　the　saddle。　Curtis　Anderson　let　him　do　just　that；　and　with　a　sigh　of　relief　the　rest　of　us　could　almost　hear。　The　bewildered；　frightened　old　man　was　gone；　it　was　the　Warden　who　strode　up　to　Percy；　grabbed　him　by　the　shoulders　with　his　big　hands；　and　shook　him　hard。　
〃Son！〃　he　shouted　into　Percy's　blank　face　…　a　face　that　was　already　starting　to　soften　like　wax；　I　thought。　〃Son！　Do　you　hear　me？　Talk　to　me　if　you　hear　me！　I　want　to　know　what　happened！〃　
Nothing　from　Percy；　of　course。　Anderson　wanted　to　get　the　Warden　aside；　discuss　how　they　were　going　to　handle　it　…it　was　a　political　hot　potato　if　there　had　ever　been　one…but　Moores　put　him　off；　at　least　for　the　time　being；　and　drew　me　down　the　Mile。　John　Coffey　was　lying　on　his　bunk　with　his　face　to　the　wall；　legs　dangling　outrageously；　as　they　always　did。　He　appeared　to　be　sleeping　and　probably　was　。。。　but　he　wasn't　always　what　he　appeared；　as　we　had　found　out。　
〃Did　what　happened　at　my　house　have　anything　to　do　with　what　happened　here　when　you　got　back？〃　Moores　asked　in　a　low　voice。　〃I'll　cover　you　as　much　as　I　can；　even　if　it　means　my　job；　but　I　have　to　know。〃　
I　shook　my　head。　When　I　spoke；　I　also　kept　my　voice　low…pitched。　There　were　now　almost　a　dozen　screws　milling　around　at　the　head　of　the　aisle。　Another　was　photographing　Wharton　in　his　cell。　Curtis　Anderson　had　turned　to　watch　that；　and　for　the　time　being；　only　Brutal　was　watching　us。　〃No；　sir。　We　got　John　back　into　his　cell　just　like　you　see；　then　let　Percy　out　of　the　restraint　room；　where　we'd　stashed　him　for　safekeeping。　I　thought　he'd　be　hot　under　the　collar；　but　he　wasn't。　Just　asked　for　his　sidearm　and　baton。　He　didn't　say　anything　else；　just　walked　off　up　the　corridor。　Then；　when　he　got　to　Wharton's　cell　he　pulled　his　gun　and　started　shooting。〃　
〃Do　You　think　being　in　the　restraint　room　。。。　something　to　his　mind？〃　
〃No；　sir。〃　
〃Did　you　put　him　in　the　straitjacket？〃　
〃No；　sir。　There　was　no　need。〃　
〃He　was　quiet？　Didn't　struggle？〃　
〃No　struggle。〃　
〃Even　when　he　saw　you　meant　to　put　him　in　restraint　room；　he　was　quiet　and　didn't　struggle。〃　
〃That's　right。〃　I　felt　an　urge　to　embroider　on　this　to　give　Percy　at　least　a　line　or　tpler　would　be　better；　and　I　knew　it。　〃There；　was　no　fuss。　He　just　went　over　into　one　of　the　far　corners　and　sat　down。〃　〃Didn't　speak　of　Wharton　then？〃　〃No；　sir。　〃　
〃Didn't　speak　of　Coffey；　either？〃　I　shook　my　head。　〃Could　Percy　have　been　laying　for　Wharton？　Did　he　have　something　against　the　man？〃　
〃That　might　be；〃　I　said；　lowering　my　voice　even　more。　〃Percy　was　careless　about　where　he　walked；　Hal。　One　time　Wharton　reached　out；　grabbed　him　up　against　the　bars；　and　messed　him　over　some。〃　I　paused。　〃Felt　him　up；　you　could　say。〃　
〃No　worse　than　that？　just　。。。　'messed　him　over；　。。。　and　that　was　all？〃　
〃Yes；　but　it　was　pretty　bad　for　Percy；　just　the　same。　Wharton　said　something　about　how　he'd　rather　screw　Percy　than　Percy's　sister。〃　
〃Urn。〃　Moores　kept　looking　sideways　at　John　Coffey；　as　if　he　needed　constant　reassurance　that　Coffey　was　a　real　person；　actually　in　the　world。　〃It　doesn't　explain　what's　happened　to　him；　but　it　goes　a　good　piece　toward　explaining　why　it　was　Wharton　he　turned　on　and　not　Coffey　or　one　of　you　men。　And　speaking　of　your　men；　Paul；　will　they　all　tell　the　same　story？〃　
〃Yes；　sir；〃　I　told　him。　〃And　they　will；〃　I　said　to　Jan；　starting　in　on　the　soup　she　brought　to　the　table。　〃I'll　see　to　it。〃　
〃You　did　lie；〃　she　said。　〃You　lied　to　Hal。〃　
Well；　that's　a　wife　for　you；　isn't　it？　Always　poking　around　for　moth…holes　in　your　best　suit；　and　finding　one　more　often　than　not。　
〃I　guess；　if　you　want　to　look　at　it　that　way。　I　didn't　tell　him　anything　we　both　won't　be　able　to　live　with；　though。　Hal's　in　the　clear；　I　think。　He　wasn't　even　there；　after　all。　He　was　home　tending　his　wife　until　Curtis　called　him。〃　
〃Did　he　say　how　Melinda　was？〃　
〃Not　then；　there　wasn't　time；　but　we　spoke　again　just　as　Brutal　and　I　were　leaving。　Melly　doesn't　remember　much；　but　she's　fine。　Up　and　walking。　Talking　about　next　year's　flower　beds。〃　
My　wife　sat　watching　me　eat　for　some　little　time。　Then　she　asked；　〃Does　Hal　know　it's　a　miracle；　Paul？　Does　he　understand　that？〃　
〃Yes。　We　all　do；　all　of　us　that　were　there。〃　
〃Part　of　me　wishes　I'd　been　there；　too；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　think　most　of　me　is　glad　I　wasn't。　If　I'd　seen　the　scales　fall　from　Saul's　eyes　on　the　road　to　Damascus。　I　probably　would　have　died　of　a　heart　attack。〃　
〃Naw；〃　I　said；　tilting　my　bowl　to　capture　the　last　spoonful；　〃probably　would　have　cooked　him　some　soup。　This　is　pretty　fine；　hon。〃　
〃Good。〃　But　she　wasn't　really　thinking　about　soup　or　cooking　or　Saul's　conversion　on　the　Damascus　road。　She　was　looking　out　the　window　toward　the　ridges；　her　chin　propped　on　her　hand；　her　eyes　as　hazy　as　those　ridges　look　on　summer　mornings　when　it's　going　to　be　hot。　Summer　mornings　like　the　one　when　the　Detterick　girls　had　been　found；　I　thought　for　no　reason。　I　wondered　why　they　hadn't　screamed。　
Their　killer　had　hurt　them；　there　had　been　blood　on　the　porch；　and　on　the　steps。　So　why　hadn't　they　screamed？　
〃You　think　John　Coffey　really　killed　that　man　Wharton；　don't　you？〃　Janice　asked；　looking　back　from　the　window　at　last。　〃Not　that　it　was　an　accident；　or　anything　like　that；　you　think　he　used　Percy　Wetmore　on　Wharton　like　a　gun。〃　
〃Yes。〃　
〃Why？〃　
〃I　don't　know。'　
〃Tell　me　again　about　what　happened　when　you　took　Coffey　off　the　Mile；　would　you？　Just　that　part。〃　
So　I　did。　I　told　her　how　the　skinny　arm　shooting　out　from　between　the　bars　and　grabbing　John　's　bicep　had　reminded　me　of　a　snake…one　of　the　water　moccasins　we　were　all　scared　of　when　we　were　kids　swimming　in　the　river　…　and　how　Coffey　had　said　Wharton　was　a　bad　man。　Almost　whispering　it。　
〃And　Wharton　said　。。。　？〃　My　wife　was　looking　out　the　window　again；　but　she　was　listening；　all　right。　
〃Wharton　said；　'That's　right；　nigger；　bad　as　you'd　want。；　〃　
〃And　that's　all。〃　
〃Yes。　I　had　a　feeling　that　something　was　going　to　happen　right　then；　but　nothing　did。　Brutal　took　Wharton's　hand　off　John　and　told　him　to　lie　down；　which　Wharton　did。　He　was　out　on　his　feet　to　start　with。　Said　something　about　how　niggers　should　have　their　own　electric　chair；　and　that　was　all。　We　went　about　our　business。〃　
〃John　Coffey　called　him　a　bad　man。〃　
〃Yep。　Said　the　same　thing　about　Percy　once；　too。　Maybe　more　than　once。　I　can't　remember　exactly　when；　but　I　know　he　did。〃　
〃But　Wharton　never　did　anything　to　John　Coffey　personally；　did　he？　Like　he　did　to　Percy；　I　mean。〃　
〃No。　The　way　their　cells　were　…　Wharton　up　by　the　duty　desk　on　one　side；　John　down　a　ways　on　the　other　…　they　could　hardly　see　each　other。〃　
〃Tell　me　again　how　Coffey　looked　when　Wharton　grabbed　him。〃　
〃Janice；　this　isn't　getting　us　anywhere。〃　
〃Maybe　it　isn't　and　maybe　it　is。　Tell　me　again　how　he　looked。〃　
I　sighed。　〃I　guess　you'd　have　to　say　shocked。　He　gasped。　Like　you　would　if　you　were　sunning　at　the　beach　and　I　snuck　up　and　trickled　a　little　cold　water　down　your　back。　Or　like　he'd　been　slapped。〃　
〃Well；　sure；〃　she　said。　〃Being　grabbed　out　of　nowhere　like　that　startled　him；　woke　him　up　for　a　second。〃　
〃Yes；〃　I　said。　And　then；　〃No。〃　
〃Well　which　is　it？　Yes　or　no？〃　
〃No。　It　wasn't　being　startled。　It　was　like　when　he　wanted　me　to　e　into　his　cell　so　he　could　cure　my　infection。　Or　when　he　wanted　me　to　hand　hi