绿里奇迹(英文版)-第49章

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you　think　it　would　be　before　he　was　recaptured？　Two　hours？　Six？〃　
〃He　got　along　without　attracting　much　attention　before〃；　she　said。　A　tear　trickled　down　her　cheek。　She　slapped　it　away　with　the　heel　of　her　hand。　
That　much　was　true。　I　had　written　letters　to　some　friends　and　relatives　of　mine　farther　down　south；　asking　if　they'd　seen　anything　in　the　papers　about　a　man　fitting　John　Coffey's　description。　Anything　at　all。　Janice　had　done　the　same。　We　had　e　up　with　just　one　possible　sighting　so　far；　in　the　town　of　Muscle　Shoals；　Alabama。　A　twister　had　struck　a　church　there　during　choir　practice　…　in　1929；　this　had　been　…and　a　large　black　man　had　hauled　two　fellows　out　of　the　rubble。　Both　had　looked　dead　to　onlookers　at　first；　but　as　it　turned　out；　neither　had　been　even　seriously　hurt。　It　was　like　a　miracle；　one　of　the　witnesses　was　quoted　as　saying。　The　black　man；　a　drifter　who　had　been　hired　by　the　church　pastor　to　do　a　day's　worth　of　chores；　had　disappeared　in　the　excitement。　
〃You're　right；　he　got　along；〃　Brutal　said。　〃But　you　have　to　remember　that　he　did　most　of　his　getting　along　before　he　was　convicted　of　raping　and　murdering　two　little　girls。〃　
She　sat　without　answering。　She　sat　that　way　for　almost　a　full　minute；　and　then　she　did　something　which　shocked　me　as　badly　as　my　sudden　flow　of　tears　must　have　shocked　her。　She　reached　out　and　shoved　everything　off　the　table　with　one　wide　sweep　of　her　arm…plates；　glasses；　cups；　silverware；　the　he　bowl　of　collards；　the　bowl　of　squash；　the　platter　with　the　carved　ham　on　it；　the　milk；　the　pitcher　of　cold　tea。　All　off　the　table　and　onto　the　floor；　ker…smash。　
〃Holy　shit！〃　Dean　cried；　rocking　back　from　the　table　so　hard　he　damned　near　went　over　on　his　back。　
Janice　ignored　him。　It　was　Brutal　and　me　she　was　looking　at；　mostly　me。　〃Do　you　mean　to　kill　him；　you　cowards？〃　she　asked。　〃Do　you　mean　to　kill　the　man　who　saved　Melinda　Moores's　life；　who　tried　to　save　those　little　girls；　lives？　Well；　at　least　there　will　be　one　less　black　man　in　the　world　won't　there？　You　can　console　yourselves　with　that。　One　less　nigger。〃　
She　got　up；　looked　at　her　chair；　and　kicked　it　into　the　wall。　It　rebounded　and　fell　into　the　spilled　squash。　I　took　her　wrist　and　she　yanked　it　free。　
〃Don't　touch　me〃；　she　said。　〃Next　week　this　time　you'll　be　a　murderer；　no　better　than　that　man　Wharton；　so　don't　touch　me。〃　
She　went　out　onto　the　back　stoop；　put　her　apron　up　to　her　face；　and　began　to　sob　into　it。　The　four　of　us　looked　at　each　other。　After　a　little　bit　I　got　on　my　feet　and　set　about　cleaning　up　the　mess。　Brutal　joined　me　first；　then　Harry　and　Dean。　When　the　place　looked　more　or　less　shipshape　again；　they　left。　None　of　us　said　a　word　the　whole　time。　There　was　really　nothing　left　to　say。　
6。　
That　was　my　night　off。　I　sat　in　the　living　room　of　our　little　house；　smoking　cigarettes；　listening　to　the　radio；　and　watching　the　dark　e　up　out　of　the　ground　to　swallow　the　sky。　Television　is　all　right；　I've　nothing　against　it；　but　I　don't　like　how　it　turns　you　away　from　the　rest　of　the　world　and　toward　nothing　but　its　own　glassy　self。　In　that　one　way；　at　least；　radio　was　better。　
Janice　came　in；　knelt　beside　the　arm　of　my　chair；　and　took　my　hand。　For　a　little　while　neither　of　us　said　anything；　just　stayed　that　way；　listening　to　Kay　Kyser's　Kollege　of　Musical　Knowledge　and　watching　the　stars　e　out。　It　was　all　right　with　me。　
〃I'm　so　sorry　I　called　you　a　coward〃；　she　said。　〃I　feel　worse　about　that　than　anything　I've　ever　said　to　you　in　our　whole　marriage。〃　
〃Even　the　time　when　we　went　camping　and　you　called　me　Old　Stinky　Sam？〃　I　asked；　and　then　we　laughed　and　had　a　kiss　or　two　and　it　was　better　again　between　us。　She　was　so　beautiful；　my　Janice；　and　I　still　dream　of　her。　Old　and　tired　of　living　as　I　am；　I'll　dream　that　she　walks　into　my　room　in　this　lonely；　forgotten　place　where　the　hallways　all　smell　of　piss　and　old　boiled　cabbage；　I　dream　she's　young　and　beautiful　with　her　blue　eyes　and　her　fine　high　breasts　that　I　couldn't　hardly　keep　my　hands　off　of；　and　she'll　say；　Why；　honey；　I　wasn't　in　that　bus　crash。　You　made　a　mistake；　that's　all。　Even　now　I　dream　that；　and　sometimes　when　I　wake　up　and　know　it　was　a　dream；　I　cry。　I；　who　hardly　ever　cried　at　all　when　I　was　young。　
〃Does　Hal　know？〃　she　asked　at　last。　
〃That　John　's　innocent？　I　don't　see　how　he　can。〃　
〃Can　he　help？　Does　he　have　any　influence　with　Cribus？〃　
〃Not　a　bit；　honey　
She　nodded；　as　if　she　had　expected　this。　〃Then　don't　tell　him。　If　he　can't　help；　for　God's　sake　don't　tell　him。〃　
〃No。〃　
She　looked　up　at　me　with　steady　eyes。　〃And　you　won't　call　in　sick　that　night。　None　of　you　will。　You　can't。〃　
〃No；　we　can't。　If　we're　there；　we　can　at　least　make　it　quick　for　him。　We　can　do　that　much。　It　won't　be　like　Delacroix。〃　For　a　moment；　mercifully　brief；　I　saw　the　black　silk　mask　burning　away　from　Del's　face　and　revealing　the　cooked　blobs　of　jelly　which　had　been　his　eyes。　
〃There's　no　way　out　for　you；　is　there？〃　She　took　my　hand；　rubbed　it　down　the　soft　velvet　of　her　cheek。　〃Poor　Paul。　Poor　old　guy。〃　
I　said　nothing。　Never　before　or　after　in　my　life　did　I　feel　so　much　like　running　from　a　thing。　Just　taking　Jan　with　me；　the　two　of　us　with　a　single　packed　carpetbag　between　us；　running　to　anywhere。　
〃My　poor　old　guy〃；　she　repeated；　and　then：　〃Talk　to　him。〃　
〃Who？　John　？〃　
〃Yes。　Talk　to　him。　Find　out　what　he　wants。〃　
I　thought　about　it；　then　nodded。　She　was　right。　She　usually　was。　
7。　
Two　days　later；　on　the　eighteenth；　Bill　Dodge；　Hank　Bitterman；　and　someone　else　…　I　don't　remember　who；　some　floater　…　took　John　Coffey　over　to　D　Block　for　his　shower；　and　we　rehearsed　his　execution　while　he　was　gone。　We　didn't　let　Toot…Toot　stand　in　for　John　；　all　of　us　knew；　even　without　talking　about　it；　that　it　would　have　been　an　obscenity。　
I　did　it。　
〃John　Coffey〃；　Brutal　said　in　a　not…quite…steady　voice　as　I　sat　clamped　into　Old　Sparky；　〃you　have　been　condemned　to　die　in　the　electric　chair；　sentence　passed　by　a　jury　of　your　peers。　。。〃　
John　Coffey's　peers？　What　a　joke。　So　far　as　I　knew；　there　was　no　one　like　him　on　the　pla。　Then　I　thought　of　what　John　had　said　while　he　stood　looking　at　Sparky　from　the　foot　of　the　stairs　leading　down　from　my　office：　They're　still　in　there。　I　hear　them　screaming。　
〃Get　me　out　of　it〃；　I　said　hoarsely。　〃Undo　these　clamps　and　let　me　up。〃　
They　did　it；　but　for　a　moment　I　felt　frozen　there；　as　if　Old　Sparky　did　not　want　to　let　me　go。　
As　we　walked　back　to　the　block；　Brutal　spoke　to　me　in　a　low　voice；　so　not　even　Dean　and　Harry；　who　were　setting　up　the　last　of　the　chairs　behind　us；　would　overhear。　〃I　done　a　few　things　in　my　life　that　I'm　not　proud　of；　but　this　is　the　first　time　I　ever　felt　really　actually　in　danger　of　hell。〃　
I　looked　at　him　to　make　sure　he　wasn't　joking。　I　didn't　think　he　was。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　
〃I　mean　we're　fixing　to　kill　a　gift　of　God〃；　he　said。　〃One　that　never　did　ary　harm　to　us；　or　to　anyone　else。　What　am　I　going　to　say　if　I　end　up　standing　in　front　of　God　the　Father　Almighty　and　He　asks　me　to　explain　why　I　did　it？　That　it　was　my　job？　My　job？〃　
8。　
When　John　got　back　from　his　shower　and　the　floaters　had　left；　I　unlocked　his　cell；　went　in；　and　sat　down　on　the　bunk　beside　him。　Brutal　was　on　the　desk。　He　looked　up；　saw　me　in　there　on　my　own；　but　said　nothing。　He　just　went　back　to　whatever　paperwork　he　was　currently　mangling；　licking　away　at　the　tip　of　his　pencil　the　whole　time。　
John　looked　at　me　with　his　strange　eyes　…　bloodshot；　distant；　on　the　verge　of　tears　。。。　and　yet　calm；　too；　as　if　crying　was　not　such　a　bad　way　of　life；　not　once　you　got　used　to　it。　He　even　smiled　a　little。　He　smelled　of　Ivory　soap；　I　remember；　as　clean　and　fresh　as　a　baby　after　his　evening　bath。　
〃Hello；　boss；〃　he　said；　and　then　reached　out　and　took　both　of　my　hands　in　both　of　his。　It　was　done　with　a　perfect　unstudied　naturalness。　
〃Hello；　John　。〃　There　was　a　little　block　in　my　throat；　and　I　tried　to　swallow　it　away。　〃I　guess　you　know　that　we're　ing　down　to　it　now。　Another　couple　of　days。〃　
He　said　nothing；　only　sat　there　holding　my　hands　in　his。　I　think；　looking　back　on　it；　that　something　had　already　begun　to　happen　to　me；　but　I　was　too　fixed　…　mentally　and　emotionally　…　on　doing　my　duty　to　notice。　
〃Is　there　anything　special　you'd　like　that　night　for　dinner；　John　？　We　can　rustle　you　up　most　anything。　Even　bring　you　a　beer；　if　you　want。　just　have　to　put　her　in　a　coffee　cup；　that's　all。〃　
〃Never　got　the　taste〃；　he　said。　
〃Something　special　to　eat；　then？〃　
His　brow　creased　below　that　expanse　of　clean　brown　skull。　Then　the　lines　smoothed　out　and　he　smiled。　〃Meatloaf'd　be　good。〃　
〃Meatloaf　it　is。　With　gravy　and　mashed。〃　I　felt　a　tingle　like　you　get　in　your　arm　when　you've　slept　on　it；　except　this　one　was　all　over　my　body。　In　my　body。　〃What　else　to　go　with　it？〃　
〃Dunno；　boss。　Whatever　you　got；　I　guess。　Okra；　maybe；　but　I's　not　picky。〃　
〃All　right〃；　I　said；　and　thought　he　would　also　have　Mrs。　Janice　Edgebe's　peach　cobbler　for　dessert。　〃Now；　what　about　a　preacher？　Someone　you　could　say　a　little　prayer　with；　night　after　next？　It　forts　a　man；　so　I've　seen　that　many　times。　I　could　get　in　touch　with　Reverend　Schuster；　he's　the　man　who　came　when　Del　…　〃　
〃Don't　want　no　preacher〃；　John　said。　〃You　been　good　to　me；　boss。　You　can　say　a　prayer；　if　you　want。　That'd　be　all　right。　I　could　get　kneebound　with　you　a　bit；　I　guess。〃　
〃Me！　John　；　I　couldn't　…　〃　
He　pressed　down　on　my　hands　a　little；　and　that　feeling　got　stronger。　〃You　could；〃　he　said。　〃Couldn't　you；　boss？〃　
〃I　suppose　so〃；　I　heard　myself　say。　My　voice　seemed　to　have　developed　an　echo。　〃I　suppose　I　could；　if　it　came　to　that。〃　
The　feeling　was　strong　inside　me　by　then；　and　it　was　like　before；　when　he'd　cured　my　waterworks；　but　it　was　different；　too。　And　not　just　because　there　was　nothing　wrong　with　me　this　time。　It　was　different　because　this　time　he　didn't　know　he　was　doing　it。　Suddenly　I　was　terrified；　almost　choked　with　a　need　to　get　out　of　there。　Lights　were　going　on　inside　me　where　there　had　never　been　lights　before。　Not　just　in　my　brain；　all　over　my　body。　
〃You　and　Mr。　Howell　and　the　other　bosses　been　good　to　me〃；　John　Coffey　said。　〃I　know　you　been　worryin；　but　you　ought　to　quit　on　it　now。　Because　I　want　to　go；　boss。〃　
I　tried　to　speak　and　couldn't。　He　could；　though。　What　he　said　next　was　the　longest　I　ever　heard　him　speak。　
〃I'm　rightly　tired　of　the　pain　I　hear　and　feel；　boss。　I'm　tired　of　bein　on　the　road；　lonely　as　a　robin　in　the　rain。　Not　never　havin　no　buddy　to　go　on　with　or　tell　me　where　we's　in　from　or　goin　to　or　why。　I'm　tired　of　people　bein　ugly　to　each　other。　It　feels　like　pieces　of　glass　in　my　head。　I'm　tired　of　all　the　times　I've　wanted　to　help　and　couldn't。　I'm　tired　of　bein　in　the　dark。　Mostly　it's　the　pain。　There's　too　much。　If　I　could　end　it；　I　would。　But　I　cain't。〃　
Stop　it；　I　tried　to　say。　Stop　it；　let　go　of　my　hands；　I'm　going　to　drown　if　you　don't。　Drown　or　explode。　
〃You　won't　'splode；〃　he　said；　smiling　a　little　at　the　idea　。。。　but　he　let　go　of　my　hands。　
I　leaned　forward；　gasping。　Between　my　knees　I　could　see　every　crack　in　the　cement　floor；　every　groove；　every　flash　of　mica。　I　looked　up　at　the　wall　and　saw　names　that　had　been　written　there　in　1924；　1926；　1931。　Those　names　had　been　washed　away；　the　men　who　had　written　them　had　also　been　washed　away；　in　a　manner　of　speaking；　but　I　guess　you　can　never　wash　anything　pletely　away；　not　from　this　dark　glass　of　a　world；　and　now　I　saw　them　again；　a　tangle　of　names　overlying　one　another；　and　looking　at　them　was　like　listening　to　the　dead　speak　and　sing　and　cry　out　for　mercy。　I　felt　my　eyeballs　pulsing　in　their　sockets；　heard　my　own　heart；　felt　the　windy　whoosh　of　my　blood　rushing　through　all　the　boulevards　of　my　body　like　letters　being　mailed　to　everywhere。　
I　heard　a　train…whistle　in　the　distance　…　the　threefifty　to　Priceford；　I　imagine；　but　I　couldn't　be　sure；　because　I'd　never　heard　it　before。　Not　from　Cold　Mountain；　I　hadn't；　because　the　closest　it　came　to　the　state　pen　was　ten　miles　east。　I　couldn't　have　heard　it　from　the　pen；　so　you　would　have　said　and　so；　until　November　of　'32；　I　would　have　believed；　but　I　heard　it　that　day。　
Somewhere　a　lightbulb　shattered；　loud　as　a　bomb。　
〃What　did　you　do　to　me？〃　I　whispered。　〃Oh　John　；　what　did　you　do？〃　
〃I'm　sorry；　boss；〃　he　said　in　his　calm　way。　〃I　wasn't　thinkin。　Ain't　much；　I　reckon。　You　feel　like　regular　soon。〃　
I　got　up　and　went　to　the　cell　door。　It　felt　like　walking　in　a　dream。　When　I　got　there；　he　said：　〃You　wonder　why　they　didn't　scream。　That's　the　only　thing　you　still　wonder　about；　ain't　it？　Why　those　two　little　girls　didn't　scream　while　they　were　still　there　on　the　porch。〃　
I　turned　and　looked　at　him。　I　could　see　every　red　snap　in　his　eyes；　I　could　see　every　pore　on　his　face。。。　and　I　could　feel　his　hurt；　the　pain　that　he　took　in　from　other　people　like　a　sponge　takes　in　water。　I　could　see　the　darkness　he　had　spoken　of；　too。　It　lay　in　all　the　spaces　of　the　world　as　he　saw　it；　and　in　that　moment　I　felt　both　pity　for　him　and　great　relief。　Yes；　it　was　a　terrible　thing　we'd　be　doing；　nothing　would　ever　change　that　。。。　and　yet　we　would　be　doing　him　a　favor。　
〃I　seen　it　when　that　bad　fella；　he　done　grab　me；〃　John　said。　〃That's　when　I　knowed　it　was　him　done　it。　I　seen　him　that　day；　I　was　in　the　trees　and　I　seen　h