乐文小说网

第26部分（第1页）

ed　vaguely　at　the　doghouse；　standing　at　the　center　of　its　beaten　patch；　in　the　middle　of　those　aging　turds。　〃Perhaps　youll　excuse　me；〃　he　said。　〃Since　I　dont　have　to　spend　the　afternoon　in　court；　I　thought　I　might　visit　with　my　family　for　a　little　bit。　A　mans　children　are　only　young　once。〃

〃You　go　ahead；〃　I　said。　My　lips　felt　numb　and　distant。　〃And　thank　you　for　your　time。〃

〃Dont　mention　it；〃　he　said。

I　drove　directly　from　Hammersmiths　house　to　the　prison。　It　was　a　long　drive；　and　this　time　I　wasnt　able　to　shorten　it　by　singing　songs。　It　felt　like　all　the　songs　had　gone　out　of　me；　at　least　for　awhile。　I　kept　seeing　that　poor　little　boys　disfigured　face。　And　Hammersmiths　hand；　the　fingers　going　up　and　down　against　the　thumb　in　a　biting　motion。

5。

Wild　Bill　Wharton　took　his　first　trip　down　to　the　restraint　room　the　very　next　day。　He　spent　the　morning　and　afternoon　being　as　quiet　and　good　as　Marys　little　lamb；　a　state　we　soon　discovered　was　not　natural　to　him；　and　meant　trouble。　Then；　around　seven…thirty　that　evening；　Harry　felt　something　warm　splash　on　the　cuffs　of　uniform　pants　he　had　put　on　clean　just　that　day。　It　was　piss。　William　Wharton　was　standing　at　his　cell；　showing　his　darkening　teeth　in　a　wide　grin；　and　pissing　all　over　Harry　Terwilligers　pants　and　shoes。

〃The　dirty　sonofabitch　must　have　been　saving　it　up　all　day；〃　Harry　said　later；　still　disgusted　and　outraged。

Well；　that　was　it。　It　was　time　to　show　William　Wharton　who　ran　the　show　on　E　Block。　Harry　got　Brutal　and　me；　and　I　alerted　Dean　and　Percy；　who　were　also　on。　We　had　three　prisoners　by　then；　remember；　and　were　into　what　we　called　full　coverage；　with　my　group　on　from　seven　in　the　evening　to　three　in　the　morning　…　when　trouble　was　most　apt　to　break　out　…　and　two　other　crews　covering　the　rest　of　the　day。　Those　other　crews　consisted　mostly　of　floaters；　with　Bill　Dodge　usually　in　charge。　It　wasnt　a　bad　way　to　run　things；　all　and　all；　and　I　felt　that；　once　I　could　shift　Percy　over　to　days；　life　would　be　even　better。　I　never　got　around　to　that；　however。　I　sometimes　wonder　if　it　would　have　changed　things；　if　I　had。

Anyway；　there　was　a　big　watermain　in　the　storage　room；　on　the　side　away　from　Old　Sparky；　and　Dean　and　Percy　hooked　up　a　length　of　canvas　firehose　to　it。　Then　they　stood　by　the　valve　that　would　open　it；　if　needed。

Brutal　and　I　hurried　down　to　Whartons　cell；　where　Wharton　still　stood；　still　grinning　and　still　with　his　tool　hanging　out　of　his　pants。　I　had　liberated　the　straitjacket　from　the　restraint　room　and　tossed　it　on　a　shelf　in　my　office　last　thing　before　going　home　the　night　before；　thinking　we　might　be　needing　it　for　our　new　problem　child。　Now　I　had　it　in　one　hand；　my　index　finger　hooked　under　one　of　the　canvas　straps。　Harry　came　behind　us；　hauling　the　nozzle　of　the　firehose；　which　ran　back　through　my　office；　down　the　storage…room　steps；　and　to　the　drum　where　Dean　and　Percy　were　paying　it　out　as　fast　as　they　could。

〃Hey；　djall　like　that？〃　Wild　Bill　asked。　He　was　laughing　like　a　kid　at　a　carnival；　laughing　so　hard　he　could　barely　talk；　big　tears　went　rolling　down　his　cheeks。　〃You　e　on　sfast　I　guess　you　mustve。　Im　currently　cookin　some　turds　to　go　with　it。　Nice　soft　ones。　Ill　have　them　out　to　yall　tomorrow　…　〃

He　saw　that　I　was　unlocking　his　cell　door　and　his　eyes　narrowed。　He　saw　that　Brutal　was　holding　his　revolver　in　one　hand　and　his　nightstick　in　the　other；　and　they　narrowed　even　more。

〃You　can　e　in　here　on　your　legs；　but　youll　go　out　on　your　backs；　Billy　the　Kid　is　goan　guarantee　you　that；〃　he　told　us。　His　eyes　shifted　back　to　me。　〃And　if　you　think　youre　gonna　put　that　nut…coat　on　me；　you　got　another　think　ing；　old　hoss。〃

〃Youre　not　the　one　who　says　go　or　jump　back　around　here；〃　I　told　him。　〃You　should　know　that；　but　I　guess　youre　too　dumb　to　pick　it　up　without　a　little　teaching。〃

I　finished　unlocking　the　door　and　ran　it　back　on　its　track。　Wharton　retreated　to　the　bunk；　his　cock　still　hanging　out　of　his　pants；　put　his　hands　out　to　me；　palms　up；　then　beckoned　with　his　fingers。　〃e　on；　you　ugly　motherfucker；〃　he　said。　〃They　be　schoolin；　all　right；　but　this　old　boys　well　set　up　to　be　the　teacher。〃　He　shifted　his　gaze　and　his　darktoothed　grin　to　Brutal。　〃e　on；　big　fella；　you　first。　This　time　you　caint　sneak　up　behind　me。　Put　down　that　gun　…　you　aint　gonna　shoot　it　anyway；　not　you　…　and　well　go　man…to…man。　See　whos　the　better　fel…〃

Brutal　stepped　into　the　cell；　but　not　toward　Wharton。　He　moved　to　the　left　once　he　was　through　the　door；　and　Whartons　narrow　eyes　widened　as　he　saw　the　firehose　pointed　at　him。

〃No；　you　dont；〃　he　said。　〃Oh　no；　you　d…〃

〃Dean！〃　I　yelled。　〃Turn　it　on！　All　the　way！〃

Wharton　jumped　forward；　and　Brutal　hit　him　a　good　smart　lick　…　the　kind　of　lick　Im　sure　Percy　dreamed　of　…　across　his　forehead；　laying　his　baton　right　over　Whartons　eyebrows。　Wharton；　who　seemed　to　think　wed　never　seen　trouble　until　wed　seen　him；　went　to　his　knees；　his　eyes　open　but　blind。　Then　the　water　came；　Harry　staggering　back　a　step　under　its　power　and　then　holding　steady；　the　nozzle　firm　in　his　hands；　pointed　like　a　gun。　The　stream　caught　iddle　of　his　chest；　spun　him　halfway　around；　and　drove　him　back　under　his　bunk。　Down　the　hall；　Delacroix　was　jumping　from　foot　to　foot；　cackling　shrilly；　and　cursing　at　John　Coffey；　demanding　that　Coffey　tell　him　what　was　going　on；　who　was　winning；　and　how　dat　gran　fou　new　boy　like　dat　Chinee　water　treatment。　John　said　nothing；　just　stood　there　quietly　in　his　too…short　pants　and　his　prison　slippers。　I　only　had　one　quick　glance　at　him；　but　that　was　enough　to　observe　his　same　old　expression；　both　sad　and　serene。　It　was　as　if　hed　seen　the　whole　thing　before；　not　just　once　or　twice　but　a　thousand　times。

〃Kill　the　water！〃　Brutal　shouted　back　over　his　shoulder；　then　raced　forward　into　the　cell。　He　sank　his　hands　into　the　semi…conscious　Whartons　armpits　and　dragged　him　out　from　under　his　bunk。　Wharton　was　coughing　and　making　a　glub…glub　sound。　Blood　was　dribbling　into　his　dazed　eyes　from　above　his　brows；　where　Brutals　stick　had　popped　the　skin　open　in　a　line。

We　had　the　straitjacket　business　down　to　a　science；　did　Brutus　Howell　and　me；　wed　practiced　it　like　a　couple　of　vaudeville　hoofers　working　up　a　new　dance　routine。　Every　now　and　then；　that　practice　paid　off。　Now；　for　instance。　Brutal　sat　Wharton　up　and　held　out　his　arms　toward　me　the　way　a　kid　might　hold　out　the　arms　of　a　Raggedy　Andy　doll。　Awareness　was　just　starting　to　seep　back　into　Whartons　eyes；　the　knowledge　that　if　he　didnt　start　fighting　right　away；　it　was　going　to　be　too　late；　but　the　lines　were　still　down　between　his　brain　and　his　muscles；　and　before　he　could　repair　them；　I　had　rammed　the　sleeves　of　the　coat　up　his　arms　and　Brutal　was　doing　the　buckles　up　the　back。　While　he　took　care　of　that；　I　grabbed　the　cuff…straps；　pulled　Whartons　arms　around　his　sides；　and　linked　his　wrists　together　with　another　canvas　strap。　He　ended　up　looking　like　he　was　hugging　himself。

〃Goddam　you；　big　dummy；　how　dey　doin　widdim？〃　Delacroix　screamed。　I　heard　Mr。　Jingles　squeaking；　as　if　he　wanted　to　know；　too。

Percy　arrived；　his　shirt　wet　and　sticking　to　him　from　his　struggles　with　the　watermain；　his　face　glowing　with　excitement。　Dean　came　along　behind　him；　wearing　a　bracelet　of　purplish　bruise　around　his　throat　and　looking　a　lot　less　thrilled。

〃e　on；　now；　Wild　Bill；〃　I　said；　and　yanked　Wharton　to　his　feet。　〃Little　walky…walky。〃

〃Dont　you　call　me　that！〃　Wharton　screamed　shrilly；　and　I　think　that　for　the　first　time　we　were　seeing　real　feelings；　and　not　just　a　clever　animals　camouflage　spots。　〃Wild　Bill　Hickok　wasnt　no　range…rider！　He　never　fought　him　no　bear　with　a　Bowie　knife；　either！　He　was　just　another　bushwhackin　John　Law！　Dumb　sonofabitch　sat　with　his　back　to　the　door　and　got　kilt　by　a　drunk！〃

〃Oh　my　suds　and　body；　a　history　lesson！〃　Brutal　exclaimed；　and　shoved　Wharton　out　of　his　cell。　〃A　feller　just　never　knows　what　hes　going　to　get　when　he　clocks　in　here；　only　that　its　apt　to　be　nice。　But　with　so　many　nice　people　like　you　around；　I　guess　that　kind　of　stands　to　reason；　dont　it？　And　you　know　what？　Pretty　soon　youll　be　history　yourself；　Wild　Bill。　Meantime；　you　get　on　down　the　hall。　We　got　a　room　for　you。　Kind　of　a　cooling…off　room。〃

Wharton　gave　a　furious；　inarticulate　scream　and　threw　himself　at　Brutal；　even　though　he　was　snugly　buckled　into　the　coat　now；　and　his　arms　were　wrapped　around　behind　him。　Percy　made　to　draw　his　baton　…　the　Wetmore　Solution　for　all　of　lifes　problems　…　and　Dean　put　a　hand　on　his　wrist。　Percy　gave　him　a　puzzled；　half…indignant　look；　as　if　to　say　that　after　what　Wharton　had　done　to　Dean；　Dean　should　be　the　last　person　in　the　world　to　want　to　hold　him　back。

Brutal　pushed　Wharton　backward。　I　caught　him　and　pushed　him　to　Harry。　And　Harry　propelled　him　on　down　the　Green　Mile；　past　the　gleeful　Delacroix　and　the　impassive　Coffey。　Wharton　ran　to　keep　from　falling　on　his　face；　spitting　curses　the　whole　way。　Spitting　them　the　way　a　welders　torch　spits　sparks。　We　banged　him　into　the　last　cell　on　the　right　while　Dean；　Harry；　and　Percy　（who　for　once　wasnt　plaining　about　being　unfairly　overworked）　yanked　all　of　the　crap　out　of　the　restraint　room。　While　they　did　that；　I　had　a　brief　conversation　with　Wharton。

〃You　think　youre　tough；〃　I　said；　〃and　maybe　you　are；　sonny；　but　in　here　tough　dont　matter。　Your　stampeding　days　are　over。　If　you　take　it　easy　on　us；　well　take　it　easy　on　you。　If　you　make　it　hard；　youll　die　in　the　end　just　the　same；　only　well　sharpen　you　like　a　pencil　before　you　go。〃

〃Youre　gonna　be　so　happy　to　see　the　end　of　me；〃　Wharton　said　in　a　hoarse　voice。　He　was　struggling　against　the　straitjacket　even　though　he　must　have　known　it　would　do　no　good；　and　his　face　was　as　red　as　a　tomato。　〃And　until　Im　gone；　Ill　make　your　lives　miserable。〃　He　bared　his　teeth　at　me　like　an　angry　baboon。

〃If　thats　all　you　want；　to　make　our　lives　miserable；　you　can　quit　now；　because　youve　already　succeeded；〃　Brutal　said。　〃But　as　far　as　your　time　on　the　Mile　goes；　Wharton；　we　dont　care　if　you　spend　all　of　it　in　the　room　with　the　soft　walls。　And　you　can　wear　that　damned　nut…coat　until　your　arms　gangrene　from　lack　of　circulation　and　fall　right　off。〃　He　paused。　〃No　one　much　es　down　here；　you　know。　And　if　you　think　anyone　gives　much　of　a　shit　what　happens　to　you；　one　way　or　another；　you　best　reconsider。　To　the　world　in　general；　youre　already　one　dead　outlaw。〃

Wharton　was　studying　Brutal　carefully；　and　the　color　was　fading　out　of　his　face。　〃Lemme　out　of　it〃；　he　said　in　a　placatory　voice　…　a　voice　too　sane　and　too　reasonable　to　trust。　〃Ill　be　good。　Honest　Injun。〃

Harry　appeared　in　the　cell　doorway。　The　end　of　the　corridor　looked　like　a　rummage　sale；　but　wed　set　things　to　rights　with　good　speed　once　we　got　started。　We　had　before；　we　knew　the　drill。　〃All　ready；〃　Harry　said。

Brutal　grabbed　the　bulge　in　the　canvas　where　Whartons　right　elbow　was　and　yanked　him　to　his　feet。　〃e　on；　Wild　Billy。　And　look　on　the　good　side。　Youre　gonna　have　at　least　twenty…four　hours　to　remind　yourself　never　to　sit　with　your　back　to　the　door；　and　to　never　hold　onto　no　aces　and　eights。〃

〃Lemme　out　of　it；〃　Wharton　said。　He　looked　from　Brutal　to　Harry　to　me；　the　red　creeping　back　into　hi

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