乐文小说网

第49部分（第2页）

I　started　forward。　Before　I　got　two　steps；　John　knee…walked　away　from　me　and　into　the　corner　of　the　room；　still　coughing　harshly　and　dragging　for　each　breath。　He　laid　his　forehead　against　the　wallpaper　…　wild　red　roses　overspreading　a　garden　wall　…　and　made　a　gruesome　deep　hacking　sound；　as　if　he　were　trying　to　vomit　up　the　lining　of　his　own　throat。　Thatll　bring　the　bugs　if　anything　can；　I　remember　thinking；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　them。　All　the　same；　his　coughing　fit　seemed　to　ease　a　little。

〃Im　all　right；　boss；〃　he　said；　still　leaning　with　his　forehead　against　the　wild　roses。　His　eyes　remained　closed。　Im　not　sure　how　he　knew　I　was　there；　but　he　clearly　did。　〃Honest　I　am。　See　to　the　lady。〃

I　looked　at　him　doubtfully；　then　turned　to　the　bed。　Hal　was　stroking　Mellys　brow；　and　I　saw　an　amazing　thing　above　it：　some　of　her　hair　…　not　very　much；　but　some　…　had　gone　back　to　black。

〃Whats　happened？〃　she　asked　him。　As　I　watched；　color　began　to　blush　into　her　cheeks。　It　was　as　if　she　had　stolen　a　couple　of　roses　right　out　of　the　wallpaper。　〃How　did　I　get　here？　We　were　going　to　the　hospital　up　in　Indianola；　werent　we？　A　doctor　was　going　to　shoot　X…rays　into　my　head　and　take　pictures　of　my　brain。〃

〃Shhh；〃　Hal　said。　〃Shhh；　dearie；　none　of　that　matters　now。〃

〃But　I　dont　understand！〃　she　nearly　wailed；　〃We　stopped　at　a　roadside　stand　。。。　you　bought　me　a　dime　packet　of　posies　。。。　and　then　。。。　Im　here。　Its　dark！　Have　you　had　your　supper；　Hal？　Why　am　I　in　the　guest　room？　Did　I　have　the　X…ray？〃　Her　eyes　moved　across　Harry　almost　without　seeing　him　…　that　was　shock；　I　imagine　…　and　fixed　on　me。　〃Paul？　Did　I　have　the　X…ray？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃It　was　clear。〃

〃They　didnt　find　a　tumor？〃

〃No；〃　I　said。　〃They　say　the　headaches　will　likely　stop　now。〃

Beside　her；　Hal　burst　into　tears。

She　sat　forward　and　kissed　his　temple。　Then　her　eyes　moved　to　the　er。　〃Who　is　that　Negro　man？　Why　is　he　in　the　corner？〃

I　turned　and　saw　John　trying　to　get　up　on　his　feet。　Brutal　helped　him　and　John　made　it　with　a　final　lunge。　He　stood　facing　the　wall；　though；　like　a　child　who　has　been　bad。　He　was　still　coughing　in　spasms；　but　these　seemed　to　be　weakening　now。

〃John；〃　I　said。　〃Turn　around；　big　boy；　and　see　this　lady。〃

He　slowly　turned。　His　face　was　still　the　color　of　ashes；　and　he　looked　ten　years　older；　like　a　once　powerful　man　at　last　losing　a　long　battle　with　consumption。　His　eyes　were　cast　down　on　his　prison　slippers；　and　he　looked　as　if　he　wished　for　a　hat　to　wring。

〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked　again。　〃Whats　your　name？〃

〃John　Coffey；　maam；〃　he　said；　to　which　she　immediately　replied；　〃But　not　spelled　like　the　drink。〃

Hal　started　beside　her。　She　felt　it；　and　patted　his　hand　reassuringly　without　taking　her　eyes　from　the　black　man。

〃I　dreamed　of　you；〃　she　said　in　a　soft；　wondering　voice。　〃I　dreamed　you　were　wandering　in　the　dark；　and　so　was　I。　We　found　each　other。〃

John　Coffey　said　nothing。

〃We　found　each　other　in　the　dark；〃　she　said。　〃Stand　up；　Hal；　youre　pinning　me　in　here。〃

He　got　up　and　watched　with　disbelief　as　she　turned　back　the　counterpane。　〃Melly；　you　cant…〃

〃Dont　be　silly；〃　she　said；　and　swung　her　legs　out。　〃Of　course　I　can。〃　She　smoothed　her　nightgown；　stretched；　then　got　to　her　feet。

〃My　God；〃　Hal　whispered。　〃My　dear　God　in　heaven；　look　at　her。〃

She　went　to　John　Coffey。　Brutal　stood　away　from　her；　an　awed　expression　on　his　face。　She　limped　with　the　first　step；　did　no　more　than　favor　her　right　leg　a　bit　with　the　second；　and　then　even　that　was　gone。　I　remembered　Brutal　handing　the　colored　spool　to　Delacroix　and　saying；　〃Toss　it　…　I　want　to　see　how　he　runs。〃　Mr。　Jingles　had　limped　then；　but　on　the　next　night；　the　night　Del　walked　the　Mile；　he　had　been　fine。

Melly　put　her　arms　around　John　and　hugged　him。　Coffey　stood　there　for　a　moment；　letting　himself　be　hugged；　and　then　he　raised　one　hand　and　stroked　the　top　of　her　head。　This　he　did　with　infinite　gentleness。　His　face　was　still　gray。　I　thought　he　looked　dreadfully　sick。

She　stood　away　from　him；　her　face　turned　up　to　his。　〃Thank　you。〃

〃Right　wele；　maam。〃

She　turned　to　Hal　and　walked　back　to　him。　He　put　his　arms　ar

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