绿里奇迹(英文版)-第50章

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〃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　him　drop　them　down　and　run　away；　but　…　〃　
〃You　forgot；〃　I　said。　
〃That's　right；　boss。　Until　he　touch　me；　I　forgot。〃　
〃Why　didn't　they　scream；　John　？　He　hurt　them　enough　to　make　them　bleed；　their　parents　were　right　upstairs；　so　why　didn't　they　scream？〃　
John　looked　at　me　from　his　haunted　eyes。　〃He　say　to　the　one；　'If　you　make　noise；　it's　your　sister　I　kill；　not　you'；　He　say　that　same　to　the　other。　You　see？〃　
〃Yes〃；　I　whispered；　and　I　could　see　it。　The　Detterick　porch　in　the　dark。　Wharton　leaning　over　them　like　a　ghoul。　One　of　them　had　maybe　started　to　cry　out；　so　Wharton　had　hit　her　and　she　had　bled　from　the　nose。　That's　where　most　of　it　had　e　from。　
〃He　kill　them　with　they　love〃；　John　said。　〃They　love　for　each　other。　You　see　how　it　was？〃　
I　nodded；　incapable　of　speech。　
He　smiled。　The　tears　were　flowing　again；　but　he　smiled。　〃That's　how　it　is　every　day〃；　he　said；　〃all　over　the　worl'。〃　Then　he　lay　down　and　turned　his　face　to　the　wall。　
I　stepped　out　into　the　Mile；　locked　his　cell；　and　walked　up　to　the　duty　desk。　I　still　felt　like　a　man　in　a　dream。　I　realized　I　could　hear　Brutal's　thoughts　…　a　very　faint　whisper；　how　to　spell　some　word；　receive；　I　think　it　was。　He　was　thinking　i　before　e；　except　after　c；　is　that　how　the　dadratted　thing　goes？　Then　he　looked　up；　started　to　smile；　and　stopped　when　he　got　a　good　look　at　me。　〃Paul？〃　he　asked。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　
〃Yes。〃　Then　I　told　him　what　John　had　told　me　…　not　all　of　it；　and　certainly　not　about　what　his　touch　had　done　to　me　（I　never　told　anyone　that　part；　not　even　Janice；　Elaine　Connelly　will　be　the　first　to　know　of　it　…　if；　that　is；　she　wants　to　read　these　last　pages　after　reading　all　the　rest　of　them）；　but　I　repeated　what　John　had　said　about　wanting　to　go。　That　seemed　to　relieve　Brutal　…　a　bit；　anyway　…　but　I　sensed　（heard？）　him　wondering　if　I　hadn't　made　it　up；　just　to　set　his　mind　at　ease。　Then　I　felt　him　deciding　to　believe　it；　simply　because　it　would　make　things　a　little　easier　for　him　when　the　time　came。　
〃Paul；　is　that　infection　of　yours　ing　back？〃　he　asked。　〃You　look　all　flushed。〃　
〃No；　I　think　I'm　okay〃；　I　said。　I　wasn't；　but　I　felt　sure　by　then　that　John　was　right　and　I　was　going　to　be。　I　could　feel　that　tingle　starting　to　subside。　
〃All　the　same；　it　might　not　hurt　you　to　go　on　in　your　office　there　and　lie　down　a　bit。〃　
Lying　down　was　the　last　thing　I　felt　like　right　then　…　the　idea　seemed　so　ridiculous　that　I　almost　laughed。　What　I　felt　like　doing　was　maybe　building　myself　a　little　house；　then　shingling　it；　and　plowing　a　garden　in　back；　and　planting　it。　All　before　suppertime。　
That's　how　it　is；　I　thought。　Every　day。　All　over　the　world。　That　darkness。　All　over　the　world。　
〃I'm　going　to　take　a　turn　over　to　Admin　instead。　Got　a　few　things　to　check　over　there。〃　
〃If　you　say　so。〃　
I　went　to　the　door　and　opened　it；　then　looked　back。　〃You've　got　it　right〃；　I　said：　〃r…e…c…e…i…v…e；　i　before　e；　except　after　c。　Most　of　the　time；　anyway；　I　guess　there's　exceptions　to　all　the　rules。…〃　
I　went　out；　not　needing　to　look　back　at　him　to　know　he　was　staring　with　his　mouth　open。　
I　kept　moving　for　the　rest　of　that　shift；　unable　to　sit　down　for　more　than　five　minutes　at　a　stretch　before　jumping　up　again。　I　went　over　to　Admin；　and　then　I　tromped　back　and　forth　across　the　empty　exercise　yard　until　the　guards　in　the　towers　must　have　thought　I　was　crazy。　But　by　the　time　my　shift　was　over；　I　was　starting　to　calm　down　again；　and　that　rustle　of　thoughts　in　my　head　…like　a　stirring　of　leaves；　it　was　…　had　pretty　much　quieted　down。　
Still；　halfway　home　that　morning；　it　came　back　strong。　The　way　my　urinary　infection　had。　I　had　to　park　my　Ford　by　the　side　of　the　road；　get　out；　and　sprint　nearly　half　a　mile；　head　down；　arms　pumping；　breath　tearing　in　and　out　of　my　throat　as　warm　as　something　that　you've　carried　in　your　armpit。　Then；　at　last；　I　began　to　feel　really　normal。　I　trotted　halfway　back　to　where　the　Ford　was　parked　and　walked　the　rest　of　the　way；　my　breath　steaming　in　the　chilly　air。　When　I　got　home；　I　told　Janice　that　John　Coffey　had　said　he　was　ready；　that　he　wanted　to　go。　She　nodded；　looking　relieved。　Was　she　really？　I　couldn't　say。　Six　hours　before；　even　three；　I　would　have　known；　but　by　then　I　didn't。　And　that　was　good。　John　had　kept　saying　that　he　was　tired；　and　now　I　could　understand　why。　It　would　have　tired　anyone　out；　what　he　had。　Would　have　made　anyone　long　for　rest　and　for　quiet。　
When　Janice　asked　me　why　I　looked　so　flushed　and　smelled　so　sweaty；　I　told　her　I　had　stopped　the　car　on　my　way　home　and　gone　running　for　awhile；　running　hard。　I　told　her　that　much　…　as　I　may　have　said　（there's　too　many　pages　here　now　for　me　to　want　to　look　back　through　and　make　sure）；　lying　wasn't　much　a　part　of　our　marriage　…　but　I　didn't　tell　her　why。　
And　she　didn't　ask。　
9。　
There　were　no　thunderstorms　on　the　night　it　came　John　Coffey's　turn　to　walk　the　Green　Mile。　It　was　seasonably　cold　for　those　parts　at　that　time　of　year；　in　the　thirties；　I'd　guess；　and　a　million　stars　spilled　across　used…up；　picked…out　fields　where　frost　glittered　on　fenceposts　and　glowed　like　diamonds　on　the　dry　skeletons　of　July's　corn。　
Brutus　Howell　was　out　front　for　this　one　…　he　would　do　the　capping　and　tell　Van　Hay　to　roll　when　it　was　time。　Bill　Dodge　was　in　with　Van　Hay。　And　at　around　eleven…twenty　on　the　night　of　November　20th；　Dean　and　Harry　and　I　went　down　to　our　one　occupied　cell；　where　John　Coffey　sat　on　the　end　of　his　bunk　with　his　hands　clasped　between　his　knees　and　a　tiny　dab　of　meatloaf　gravy　on　the　collar　of　his　blue　shirt。　He　looked　out　through　the　bars　at　us；　a　lot　calmer　than　we　felt；　it　seemed。　My　hands　were　cold　and　my　temples　were　throbbing。　It　was　one　thing　to　know　he　was　willing　…　it　made　it　at　least　possible　for　us　to　do　our　job　…　but　it　was　another　to　know　we　were　going　to　electrocute　him　for　someone　else's　crime。　
I　had　last　seen　Hal　Moores　around　seven　that　evening。　He　was　in　his　office；　buttoning　up　his　overcoat。　His　face　was　pale；　his　hands　shaking　so　badly　that　he　e　production　of　those　buttons。　I　almost　wanted　to　knock　his　fingers　aside　and　do　the　coat　up　myself；　like　you　would　with　a　little　kid。　The　irony　was　that　Melinda　had　looked　better　when　Jan　and　I　went　to　see　her　the　previous　weekend　than　Hal　had　looked　earlier　on　John　Coffey's　execution　evening。　
〃I　won't　be　staying　for　this　one；〃　he　had　said。　〃Curtis　will　be　there；　and　I　know　Coffey　will　be　in　good　hands　with　you　and　Brutus。〃　
〃Yes；　sir；　we'll　do　our　best〃；　I　said。　〃Is　there　any　word　on　Percy？〃　Is　he　ing　back　around？　is　what　I　meant；　of　course。　Is　he　even　now　sitting　in　a　room　somewhere　and　telling　someone　…　some　doctor；　most　likely　…　about　how　we　zipped　him　into　the　nut…coat　and　threw　him　into　the　restraint　room　like　any　other　problem　child　。。。　any　other　lugoon；　in　Percy's　language？　And　if　he　is；　are　they　believing　him？　
But　according　to　Hal；　Percy　was　just　the　same。　Not　talking；　and　not；　so　far　as　anyone　could　tell；　in　the　world　at　all。　He　was　still　at　Indianola　…　〃being　evaluated〃；　Hal　had　said；　looking　mystified　at　the　phrase　…　but　if　there　was　no　improvement；　he　would　be　moving　along　soon。　
〃How's　Coffey　holding　up？〃　Hal　had　asked　then。　He　had　finally　managed　to　do　up　the　last　button　of　his　coat。　
I　nodded。　〃He'll　be　fine；　Warden。〃　
He'd　nodded　back；　then　gone　to　the　door；　looking　old　and　ill。　〃How　can　so　much　good　and　so　much　evil　live　together　in　the　same　man？　How　could　the　man　who　cured　my　wife　be　the　same　man　who　killed　those　little　girls？　Do　you　understand　that？〃　
I　had　told　him　I　didn't；　the　ways　of　God　were　mysterious；　there　was　good　and　evil　in　all　of　us；　ours　not　to　reason　why；　…hotcha；　hotcha；　row…dee…dow。　Most　of　what　I　told　him　were　things　I'd　learned　in　the　church　of　Praise　Jesus；　The　Lord　Is　Mighty；　Hal　nodding　the　whole　time　and　looking　sort　of　exalted。　He　could　afford　to　nod；　couldn't　he？　Yes。　And　look　exalted；　too。　There　was　a　deep　sadness　on　his　face　…　he　was　shaken；　all　right；　I　never　doubted　it　…　but　there　were　no　tears　this　time；　because　he　had　a　wife　to　go　home　to；　his　panion　to　go　home　to；　and　she　was　fine。　Thanks　to　John　Coffey；　she　was　well　and　fine　and　the　man　who　had　signed　John　's　death　warrant　could　leave　and　go　to　her。　He　didn't　have　to　watch　what　came　next。　He　would　be　able　to　sleep　that　night　in　his　wife's　warmth　while　John　Coffey　lay　on　a　slab　in　the　basement　of　County　Hospital；　growing　cool　as　the　friendless；　speechless　hours　moved　toward　dawn。　And　I　hated　Hal　for　those　things。　Just　a　little；　and　I'd　get　over　it；　but　it　was　hate；　all　right。　The　genuine　article。　
Now　I　stepped　into　the　cell；　followed　by　Dean　and　Harry；　both　of　them　pale　and　downcast。　〃Are　you　ready；　John　？〃　I　asked。　
He　nodded。　〃Yes；　boss。　Guess　so。〃　
〃All　right；　then。　I　got　a　piece　to　say　before　we　go　out。〃　
〃You　say　what　you　need　to；　boss。〃　
〃John　Coffey；　as　an　officer　of　the　court。。。〃　
I　said　it　right　to　the　end；　and　when　I'd　finished；　Harry　Terwilliger　stepped　up　beside　me　and　held　out　his　hand。　John　looked　surprised　for　a　moment；　then　smiled　and　shook　it。　Dean；　looking　paler　than　ever；　offered　his　next。　〃You　deserve　better　than　this；　Johnny〃　he　said　hoarsely。　〃I'm　sorry。〃　
〃I　be　all　right〃；　John　said。　〃This　the　hard　part；　I　be　all　right　in　a　little　while。〃　He　got　up；　and　the　St。　Christopher's　medal　Melly　had　given　him　swung　free　of　his　shirt。　
〃John；　I　ought　to　have　that〃；　I　said。　〃I　can　put　it　back　on　you　after　the。。。　after；　if　you　want；　but　I　should　take　it　for　now。〃　It　was　silver；　and　if　it　was　lying　against　his　skin　when　Jack　Van　Hay　switched　on　the　juice；　it　might　fuse　itself　into　his　skin。　Even　if　it　didn't　do　that；　it　was　apt　to　electroplate；　leaving　a　kind　of　charred　photograph　of　itself　on　the　skin　of　his　chest。　I　had　seen　it　before。　I'd　seen　most　everything　during　my　years　on　the　Mile。　More　than　was　good　for　me。　I　knew　that　now。　
He　slipped　the　chain　over　his　head　and　put　it　in　my　hand。　I　put　the　medallion　in　my　pocket　and　told　him　to　step　on　out　of　the　cell。　There　was　no　need　to　check　his　head　and　make　sure　the　contact　would　be　firm　and　the　induction　good；　it　was　as　smooth　as　the　palm　of　my　hand。　
〃You　know；　I　fell　asleep　this　afternoon　and　had　a　dream；　boss〃；　he　said。　〃I　dreamed　about　Del's　mouse。〃　
〃Did　you；　John　？〃　I　flanked　him　on　the　left。　Harry　took　the　right。　Dean　fell　in　behind；　and　then　we　were　walking　the　Green　Mile。　For　me；　it　was　the　last　time　I　ever　walked　it　with　a　prisoner。　
〃Yep〃；　he　said。　〃I　dreamed　he　got　down　to　that　place　Boss　Howell　talked　about；　that　Mouseville　place。　I　dreamed　there　was　kids；　and　how　they　laughed　at　his　tricks！　My！〃　He　laughed　himself　at　the　thought　of　it；　then　grew　serious　again。　〃I　dreamed　those　two　little　blond…headed　girls　were　there。　They　us　laughin；　too。　I　put　my　arms　around　em　and　there　us　no　blood　in　out　they　hair　and　they　'us　fine。　We　all　watch　Mr。　Jingles　roll　that　spool；　and　how　we　did　laugh。　Fit　to　bus'；　we　was。〃　
〃Is　that　so？〃　I　was　thinking　I　couldn't　go　through　with　it；　just　could　not；　there　was　no　way。　I　was　going　to　cry　or　scream　or　maybe　my　heart　would　burst　with　sorrow　and　that　would　be　an　end　to　it。　
We　went　into　my　office。　John　looked　around　for　a　moment　or　two；　then　dropped　to　his　knees　without　having　to　be　asked。　Behind　him；　Harry　was　looking　at　me　with　haunted　eyes。　Dean　was　as　white　as　paper。　
I　got　down　on　my　knees　with　John　and　thought　there　was　a　funny　turnaround　brewing　here：　after　all　the　prisoners　I'd　had　to　help　up　so　they　could　finish　the　journey；　this　time　I　was　the　one　who　was　apt　to　need　a　hand。　That's　the　way　it　felt；　anyway。　
〃What　should　we　pray　for；　boss？〃　John　asked。　
〃Strength〃；　I　said　without　even　thinking。　I　closed　my　eyes　and　said；　〃Lord　God　of　'Hosts；　please　help　us　finish　what　we've　started；　and　please　wele　this　man；　John　Coffey　…　like　the　drink　but　not　spelled　the　same　…　into　heaven　and　give　him　peace。　Please　help　us　to　see　him　off　the　way　he　deserves　and　let　nothing　go　wrong。　Amen。〃　I　opened　my　eyes　and　looked　at　Dean　and　Harry。　Both　of　them　looked　a　little　better。　Probably　it　was　having　a　few　moments　to　catch　their　breath。　I　doubt　it　was　my　praying。　
I　started　to　get　up；　and　John　caught　my　arm。　He　gave　me　a　look　that　was　both　timid　and　hopeful。　〃I　'member　a　prayer　someone　taught　me　when　I　'us　little〃；　he　said。　〃At　least　I　think　I　do。　Can　I　say　it？〃　
〃You　go　right　on　and　do　her〃；　Dean　said。　〃Lots　of　time　yet；　John　。〃　
John　closed　his　eyes　and　frowned　with　concentration。　I　expected　now…I…lay…me…down…to…sleep；　or　maybe　a　garbled　version　of　the　Lord's　prayer；　but　I　got　neither；　I　had　never　heard　what　he　came　out　with　before；　and　have　never　heard　it　again；　not　that　either　the　sentiments　or　expressions　were　particularly　unusual。　Holding　his　hands　up　in　front　of　his　closed　eyes；　John　Coffey　said：　〃Baby　Jesus；　meek　and　mild；　pray　for　me；　an　orphan　child。　Be　my　strength；　be　my　friend；　be　with　me　until　the　end。　Amen。〃　He　opened　his　eyes；　started　to　get　up；　then　looked　at　me　closely。　
I　wipe　my　arm　across　my　eyes。　As　I　listened　to　him；　I　had　been　thinking　about　Del；　he　had　wanted　to　pray　one　more　at　the　end；　too。　Holy　Mary；　mother　of　God；　pray　for　us　sinners　now；　and　at　the　hour　of　our　death。　〃Sorry；　John　。〃