乐文小说网

第28部分（第1页）

roixs　execution。　That　thought　led　to　how　Percy　was　going　to　be　out　front　this　time；　and　I　felt　a　shiver　of　dread。　I　told　myself　to　just　go　with　it；　one　execution　and　wed　very　likely　be　shut　of　Percy　Wetmore　for　good　。。。　but　still　I　felt　that　shiver；　as　if　the　infection　Id　been　suffering　with　wasnt　gone　at　all；　but　had　only　switched　locations；　from　boiling　my　groin　to　freezing　my　backbone。

7。

〃e　on；〃　Brutal　told　Delacroix　the　following　evening。　〃Were　going　for　a　little　walk。　You　and　me　and　Mr。　Jingles。〃

Delacroix　looked　at　him　distrustfully；　then　reached　down　into　the　cigar　box　for　the　mouse。　He　cupped　it　m　the　palm　of　one　hand　and　looked　at　Brutal　with　narrowed　eyes。

〃Whatchoo　talking　about？〃　he　asked。

〃Its　a　big　night　for　you　and　Mr。　Jingles；〃　Dean　said；　as　he　and　Harry　joined　Brutal。　The　chain　of　bruises　around　Deans　neck　had　gone　an　unpleasant　yellow　color；　but　at　least　he　could　talk　again　without　sounding　like　a　dog　barking　at　a　cat。　He　looked　at　Brutal。　〃Think　we　ought　to　put　the　shackles　on　him；　Brute？〃

Brutal　appeared　to　consider。　〃Naw；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃Hes　gonna　be　good；　aint　you；　Del？　You　and　the　mouse；　both。　After　all；　youre　gonna　be　showin　off　for　some　high　muck…a…mucks　tonight。〃

Percy　and　I　were　standing　up　by　the　duty　desk；　watching　this；　Percy　with　his　arms　folded　and　a　small；　contemptuous　smile　on　his　lips。　After　a　bit；　he　took　out　his　horn　b　and　went　to　work　on　his　hair　with　it。　John　Coffey　was　watching；　too；　standing　silently　at　the　bars　of　his　cell。　Wharton　was　lying　on　his　bunk；　staring　up　at　the　ceiling　and　ignoring　the　whole　show。　He　was　still　〃being　good；〃　although　what　he　called　good　was　what　the　docs　at　Briar　Ridge　called　catatonic。　And　there　was　one　other　person　there；　as　well。　He　was　tucked　out　of　sight　in　my　office；　but　his　skinny　shadow　fell　out　the　door　and　onto　the　Green　Mile。

〃What　dis　about；　you　gran　fou？〃　Del　asked　querulously；　drawing　his　feet　up　on　the　bunk　as　Brutal　undid　the　double　locks　on　his　cell　door　and　ran　it　open。　His　eyes　flicked　back　and　forth　among　the　three　of　them。

〃Well；　I　tell　you；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Mr。　Moores　is　gone　for　awhile　…　his　wife　is　under　the　weather；　as　you　may　have　heard。　So　Mr。　Anderson　is　in　charge；　Mr。　Curtis　Anderson。〃

〃Yeah？　What　that。　got　to　do　with　me？〃

〃Well；〃　Harry　said；　〃Boss　Andersons　heard　about　your　mouse；　Del；　and　wants　to　see　him　perform。　He　and　about　six　other　fellows　are　over　in　Admin；　just　waiting　for　you　to　show　up。　Not　just　plain　old　bluesuit　guards；　either。　These　are　pretty　big　bugs；　just　like　Brute　said。　One　of　them；　I　believe；　is　a　politician　all　the　way　from　the　state　capital。〃

Delacroix　swelled　visibly　at　this；　and　I　saw　not　so　much　as　a　single　shred　of　doubt　on　his　face。　Of　course　they　wanted　to　see　Mr。　Jingles；　who　would　not？

He　scrummed　around；　first　under　his　bunk　and　then　under　his　pillow。　He　eventually　found　one　of　those　big　pink　peppermints　and　the　wildly　colored　spool。　He　looked　at　Brutal　questioningly；　and　Brutal　nodded。

〃Yep。　Its　the　spool　trick　theyre　really　wild　to　see；　I　guess；　but　the　way　he　eats　those　mints　is　pretty　damned　cute；　too。　And　dont　forget　the　cigar　box。　Youll　want　it　to　carry　him　in；　right？〃

Delacroix　got　the　box　and　put　Mr。　Jingless　props　in　it；　but　mouse　he　settled　on　the　shoulder　of　his　shirt。　Then　he　stepped　out　of　his　cell；　his　puffed…out　chest　leading　the　way；　and　regarded　Dean　and　Harry。　〃You　boys　ing？〃

〃Naw；〃　Dean　said。　〃Got　other　fish　to　fry。　But　you　knock　em　for　a　loop；　Del　…　show　em　what　happens　when　a　Louisiana　boy　puts　the　hammer　down　and　really　goes　to　work。〃

〃You　bet。〃　A　smile　shone　out　of　his　face；　so　sudden　and　so　simple　in　its　happiness　that　I　felt　my　heart　break　for　him　a　little；　in　spite　of　the　terrible　thing　he　had　done。　What　a　world　we　live　in　…　what　a　world！

Delacroix　turned　to　John　Coffey；　with　whom　he　had　struck　up　a　diffident　friendship　not　much　different　from　a　hundred　other　deathhouse　acquaintances　Id　seen。

〃You　knock　em　for　a　loop；　Del；〃　Coffey　said　in　a　serious　voice。　〃You　show　em　all　his　tricks。〃

Delacroix　nodded　and　held　his　hand　up　by　his　shoulder。　Mr。　Jingles　stepped　onto　it　like　it　was　a　platform；　and　Delacroix　held　the　hand　out　toward　Coffeys　cell。　John　Coffey　stuck　out　a　huge　finger；　and　Ill　be　damned　if　that　mouse　didnt　stretch　out　his　neck　and　lick　the　end　of　it；　just　like　a　dog。

〃e　on；　Del；　quit　lingerin；〃　Brutal　said。　〃These　folksre　settin　back　a　hot　dinner　at　home　to　watch　your　mouse　cut　his　capers。〃　Not　true；　of　course　Anderson　would　have　been　there　until　eight　oclock　on　any　night；　and　the　guards　hed　dragged　in　to　watch　Delacroixs　〃show〃　would　be　there　until　eleven　or　twelve；　depending　on　when　their　shifts　were　scheduled　to　end。　The　politician　from　the　state　capital　would　most　likely　turn　out　to　be　an　office　janitor　in　a　borrowed　tie。　But　Delacroix　had　no　way　of　knowing　any　of　that。

〃Im　ready；〃　Delacroix　said；　speaking　with　the　simplicity　of　a　great　star　who　has　somehow　managed　to　retain　the　mon　touch。　〃Lets　go。〃　And　as　Brutal　led　him　up　the　Green　Mile　with　Mr。　Jingles　perched　there　on　the　little　mans　shoulder；　Delacroix　once　more　began　to　bugle；　〃Messieurs　et　mesdames！　Bienvenue　au　cirque　de　mousie！〃　Yet；　even　lost　as　deeply　in　his　own　fantasy　world　as　he　was；　he　gave　Percy　a　wide　berth　and　a　mistrustful　glance。

Harry　and　Dean　stopped　in　front　of　the　empty　cell　across　from　Whartons　（that　worthy　had　still　not　so　much　as　stirred）。　They　watched　as　Brutal　unlocked　the　door　to　the　exercise　yard；　where　another　two　guards　were　waiting　to　join　him；　and　led　Delacroix　out；　bound　for　his　mand　performance　before　the　grand　high　poohbahs　of　Cold　Mountain　Penitentiary。　We　waited　until　the　door　was　locked　again；　and　then　I　looked　toward　my　office。　That　shadow　was　still　lying　on　the　floor；　thin　as　famine；　and　I　was　glad　Delacroix　had　been　too　excited　to　see　it。

〃e　on　out；〃　I　said。　〃And　lets　move　along　brisk；　folks。　I　want　to　get　two　run…throughs　in；　and　we　dont　have　much　time。〃

Old　Toot…Toot；　looking　as　bright…eyed　and　bushytailed　as　ever；　came　out；　walked　to　Delacroixs　cell；　and　strolled　in　through　the　open　door。　〃Sittin　down；〃　he　said。　〃Im　sittin　down；　Im　sittin　down；　Im　sittin　down。〃

This　is　the　real　circus；　I　thought；　closing　my　eyes　for　a　second。　This　is　the　real　circus　right　here；　and　were　all　just　a　bunch　of　trained　mice。　Then　I　put　the　thought　out　of　my　mind；　and　we　started　to　rehearse。

8。

The　first　rehearsal　went　well；　and　so　did　the　second。　Percy　performed　better　than　I　could　have　hoped　for　in　my　wildest　dreams。　That　didnt　mean　things　would　go　right　when　the　time　really　came　for　the　Cajun　to　walk　the　Mile；　but　it　was　a　big　step　in　the　right　direction。　It　occurred　to　me　that　it　had　gone　well　because　Percy　was　at　long　last　doing　something　he　cared　about。　I　felt　a　surge　of　contempt　at　that；　and　pushed　it　away。　What　did　it　matter？　He　would　cap　Delacroix　and　roll　him；　and　then　both　of　them　would　be　gone。　If　that　wasnt　a　happy　ending；　what　was？　And；　as　Moores　had　pointed　out；　Delacroixs　nuts　were　going　to　fry　no　matter　who　was　out　front。

Still；　Percy　had　shown　to　good　advantage　in　his　new　role　and　he　knew　it。　We　all　did。　As　for　me；　I　was　too　relieved　to　dislike　him　much；　at　east　or　the　time　being。　It　looked　as　if　things　were　going　to　go　all　right。　I　was　further　relieved　to　find　that　Percy　actually　listened　when　we　suggested　some　things　he　could　do　that　might　improve　his　performance　even　more；　or　at　least　cut　down　the　possibility　of　something　going　wrong。　If　you　want　to　know　the　truth；　we　got　pretty　enthusiastic　about　it　…　even　Dean；　who　ordinarily　stood　well　back　from　Percy　…　physically　as　well　as　mentally；　if　he　could。　None　of　it　that　surprising；　either；　I　suppose　…　for　most　men；　nothing　is　more　flattering　than　having　a　young　person　actually　pay　attention　to　his　advice；　and　we　were　no　different　in　that　regard。　As　a　result；　not　a　one　of　us　noticed　that　Wild　Bill　Wharton　was　no　longer　looking　up　at　the　ceiling。　That　includes　me；　but　I　know　he　wasnt。　He　was　looking　at　us　as　we　stood　there　by　the　duty　desk；　gassing　and　giving　Percy　advice。　Giving　him　advice！　And　him　pretending　to　listen！　Quite　a　laugh；　considering　how　things　turned　out！

The　sound　of　a　key　rattling　into　the　lock　of　the　door　to　the　exercise　yard　put　an　end　to　our　little　postrehearsal　critique。　Dean　gave　Percy　a　warning　glance。　〃Not　a　word　or　a　wrong　look；〃　he　said。　〃We　dont　want　him　to　know　what　weve　been　doing。　Its　not　good　for　them。　Upsets　them。〃

Percy　nodded　and　ran　a　finger　across　his　lips　in　a　mums…the…word　gesture　that　was　supposed　to　be　funny　and　wasnt。　The　exercise…yard　door　opened　and　Delacroix　came　in；　escorted　by　Brutal；　who　was　carrying　the　cigar　box　with　the　colored　spool　in　it；　the　way　the　magicians　assistant　in　a　vaudeville　show　might　carry　the　bosss　props　offstage　at　the　end　of　the　act。　Mr。　Jingles　was　perched　on　Delacroixs　shoulder。　And　Delacroix　himself？　I　…tell　you　what　…　Lillie　Langtry　couldnt　have　looked　any　glowier　after　performing　at　the　White　House。　〃They　love　Mr。　Jingles！〃

Delacroix　proclaimed。　〃They　laugh　and　cheer　and　clap　they　hands！〃

〃Well；　thats　aces；〃　Percy　said。　He　spoke　in　an　indulgent；　proprietary　way　that　didnt　sound　like　the　old　Percy　at　all。　〃Pop　on　back　in　your　cell；　old…timer。〃

Delacroix　gave　him　a　ical　look　of　distrust；　and　the　old　Percy　came　busting　out。　He　bared　his　teeth　in　a　mock　snarl　and　made　as　if　to　grab　Delacroix。　It　was　a　joke；　of　course；　Percy　was　happy；　not　in　a　serious　grabbing　mood　at　all；　but　Delacroix　didnt　know　that。　He　jerked　away　with　an　expression　of　fear　and　dismay；　and　tripped　over　one　of　Brutals　big　feet。　He　went　down　hard；　hitting　the　linoleum　with　the　back　of　his　head。　Mr。　Jingles　leaped　away　in　time　to　avoid　being　crushed；　and　went　squeaking　off　down　the　Green　Mile　to　Delacroixs　cell。

Delacroix　got　to　his　feet；　gave　the　chuckling　Percy　a　single　hate…filled　glance；　then　scurried　off　after　his　pet；　calling　for　him　and　rubbing　the　back　of　his　head。　Brutal　（who　didnt　know　that　Percy　had　shown　exciting　signs　of　petency　for　a　change）　gave　Percy　a　wordless　look　of　contempt　and　went　after　Del；　shaking　his　keys　out。

I　think　what　happened　next　happened　because　Percy　was　actually　moved　to　apologize　…　I　know　its　hard　to　believe；　but　he　was　in　an　extraordinary　humor　that　day。　If　true；　it　only　proves　a　cynical　old　adage　I　heard　once；　something　about　how　no　good　deed　goes　unpunished。　Remember　me　telling　you　about　how；　after　hed　chased　the　mouse　down　to　the　restraint　room　on　one　of　those　two　occasions　before　Delacroix　joined　us；　Perry　got　a　little　too　close　to　The　Press　cell？　Doing　that　was　dangerous；　which　was　why　the　Green　Mile　was　so　wide　…　when　you　walked　straight　down　the　middle　of　it；　you　couldnt　be　reached　from　the　cells。　The　Pres　hadnt　done　anything　to　Percy；　but　I　remember　thinking　that　Arlen　Bitterbuck　might　have；　had　it　been　him　Percy　had　gotten　too　close　to。　just　to　teach　him　a　lesson。

Well；　The　Pres　and　The　Chief　had　both　moved　on；　but　Wild　Bill　Wharton　had　taken　their　place。　He　was　worse…mannered　than　The　Pres　or　The　Chief　had　ever　dreamed　of　being；　and　hed　been　watching　the　whole　little　play；　hoping　for　a　chance　to　get　on　stage　himself。　That　chance　now　fell　into　his　lap；　courtesy　of　Percy　Wetmore。

〃Hey；　De

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