乐文小说网

第59部分（第2页）

〃Hows　Coffey　holding　up？〃　Hal　had　asked　then。　He　had　finally　managed　to　do　up　the　last　button　of　his　coat。

I　nodded。　〃Hell　be　fine；　Warden。〃

Hed　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　didnt；　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　Id　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；　couldnt　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　didnt　have　to　watch　what　came　next。　He　would　be　able　to　sleep　that　night　in　his　wifes　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　Id　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　Id　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。　〃Im　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。　Christophers　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　didnt　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。　Id　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　Dels　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　couldnt　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　Id　had　to　help　up　so　they　could　finish　the　journey；　this　time　I　was　the　one　who　was　apt　to　need　a　hand。　Thats　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　weve　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

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