绿里奇迹(英文版)-第21部分

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〃Yep。　It's　the　spool　trick　they're　really　wild　to　see；　I　guess；　but　the　way　he　eats　those　mints　is　pretty　damned　cute；　too。　And　don't　forget　the　cigar　box。　You'll　want　it　to　carry　him　in；　right？〃　
Delacroix　got　the　box　and　put　Mr。　Jingles's　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　I'd　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　Coffey's　cell。　John　Coffey　stuck　out　a　huge　finger；　and　I'll　be　damned　if　that　mouse　didn't　stretch　out　his　neck　and　lick　the　end　of　it；　just　like　a　dog。　
〃e　on；　Del；　quit　lingerin；〃　Brutal　said。　〃These　folks're　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　o'clock　on　any　night；　and　the　guards　he'd　dragged　in　to　watch　Delacroix's　〃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。　
〃I'm　ready；〃　Delacroix　said；　speaking　with　the　simplicity　of　a　great　star　who　has　somehow　managed　to　retain　the　mon　touch。　〃Let's　go。〃　And　as　Brutal　led　him　up　the　Green　Mile　with　Mr。　Jingles　perched　there　on　the　little　man's　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　Wharton's　（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　let's　move　along　brisk；　folks。　I　want　to　get　two　run…throughs　in；　and　we　don't　have　much　time。〃　
Old　Toot…Toot；　looking　as　bright…eyed　and　bushytailed　as　ever；　came　out；　walked　to　Delacroix's　cell；　and　strolled　in　through　the　open　door。　〃Sittin　down；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　sittin　down；　I'm　sittin　down；　I'm　sittin　down。〃　
This　is　the　real　circus；　I　thought；　closing　my　eyes　for　a　second。　This　is　the　real　circus　right　here；　and　we're　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　didn't　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　wasn't　a　happy　ending；　what　was？　And；　as　Moores　had　pointed　out；　Delacroix's　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　wasn't。　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　don't　want　him　to　know　what　we've　been　doing。　It's　not　good　for　them。　Upsets　them。〃　
Percy　nodded　and　ran　a　finger　across　his　lips　in　a　mum's…the…word　gesture　that　was　supposed　to　be　funny　and　wasn't。　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　magician's　assistant　in　a　vaudeville　show　might　carry　the　boss's　props　offstage　at　the　end　of　the　act。　Mr。　Jingles　was　perched　on　Delacroix's　shoulder。　And　Delacroix　himself？　I　…tell　you　what　…　Lillie　Langtry　couldn't　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；　that's　aces；〃　Percy　said。　He　spoke　in　an　indulgent；　proprietary　way　that　didn't　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　didn't　know　that。　He　jerked　away　with　an　expression　of　fear　and　dismay；　and　tripped　over　one　of　Brutal's　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　Delacroix's　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　didn't　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　it's　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　he'd　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　Pres's　cell？　Doing　that　was　dangerous；　which　was　why　the　Green　Mile　was　so　wide　…　when　you　walked　straight　down　the　middle　of　it；　you　couldn't　be　reached　from　the　cells。　The　Pres　hadn't　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　he'd　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；　Del！〃　Percy　called；　half…laughing；　starting　after　Brutal　and　Delacroix　and　drifting　much　too　close　to　Wharton's　side　of　the　Green　Mile　without　realizing　it。　〃Hey；　you　numb　shit；　I　didn't　mean　nothin　by　it！　Are　you　all　ri…〃　
Wharton　was　up　off　his　bunk　and　over　to　the　bars　of　his　cell　in　a　flash　…　never　in　my　time　as　a　guard　did　I　see　anyone　move　so　fast；　and　that　includes　some　of　the　athletic　young　men　Brutal　and　I　worked　with　later　at　Boys'　Correctional。　He　shot　his　arms　out　through　the　bars　and　grabbed　Percy；　first　by　the　shoulders　of　his　uniform　blouse　and　then　by　the　throat。　Wharton　dragged　him　back　against　his　cell　door。　Percy　squealed　like　a　pig　in　a　slaughter…chute；　and　I　saw　from　his　eyes　that　he　thought　he　was　going　to　die。　
〃Ain't　you　sweet；〃　Wharton　whispered。　One　hand　left　Percy's　throat　and　ruffled　through　his　hair。　〃Soft！〃　he　said；　half…laughing。　〃Like　a　girl's。　I　druther　fuck　your　asshole　than　your　sister's　pussy；　I　think。〃　And　he　actually　kissed　Percy's　ear。　
I　think　Percy　…　who　had　beat　Delacroix　onto　the　block　for　accidentally　brushing　his　crotch；　remember　…　knew　exactly　what　was　happening。　I　doubt　that　he　wanted　to；　but　I　think　he　did。　All　the　color　had　drained　from　his　face；　and　the　blemishes　on　his　cheeks　stood　out　like　birthmarks。　His　eyes　were　huge　and　wet。　A　line　of　spittle　leaked　from　one　er　of　his　twitching　mouth。　All　this　happened　quick　…　it　was　begun　and　done　in　less　than　ten　seconds；　I'd　say。　
Harry　and　I　stepped　forward；　our　billies　raised。　Dean　drew　his　gun。　But　before　things　could　go　so　much　as　an　inch　further；　Wharton　let　go　of　Perry　and　stepped　back；　raising　his　hands　to　his　shoulders　and　grinning　his　dank　grin。　〃I　let　im　go；　I　'us　just　playin　and　I　let　im　go；〃　he　said。　〃Never　hurt　airy　single　hair　on　that　boy's　purty　head；　so　don't　you　go　stickin　me　down　in　that　goddam　soft　room　again。〃　
Percy　Wetmore　darted　across　the　Green　Mile　and　cringed　against　the　barred　door　of　the　empty　cell　on　the　other　side；　breathing　so　fast　and　so　loud　that　it　sounded　almost　like　sobbing。　He　had　finally　gotten　his　lesson　in　keeping　to　the　center　of　the　Green　Mile　and　away　from　the　frumious　bandersnatch；　the　teeth　that　bite　and　the　claws　that　catch。　I　had　an　idea　it　was　a　lesson　that　would　stick　with　him　longer　than　all　the　advice　we'd　given　him　after　our　rehearsals。　
There　was　an　expression　of　utter　terror　on　his　face；　and　his　precious　hair　was　seriously　mussed　up　for　the　first　time　since　I'd　met　him；　all　in　spikes　and　tangles。　He　looked　like　someone　who　has　just　escaped　being　raped。　
There　was　a　moment　of　utter　stop　then；　a　quiet　so　thick　that　the　only　sound　was　the　sobbing　whistle　of　Percy's　breathing。　What　broke　it　was　cackling　laughter；　so　sudden　and　so　pletely　its　own　mad　thing　that　it　was　shocking。　Wharton；　was　my　first　thought；　but　it　wasn't　him。　It　was　Delacroix；　standing　in　the　open　door　of　his　cell　and　pointing　at　Percy。　The　mouse　was　back　on　his　shoulder；　and　Delacroix　looked　like　a　small　but　malevolent　male　witch；　plete　with　imp。　
〃Lookit　him；　he　done　piss　his　pants！〃　Delacroix　howled。　〃Lookit　what　the　big　man　done！　Bus'　other　people　wid　'is　stick；　mais　oui　some　mauvais　homme；　but　when　someone　touch　him；　he　make　water　in　'is　pants　jus'　like　a　baby！〃　
He　laughed　and　pointed；　all　his　fear　and　hatred　of　Percy　ing　out　in　that　derisive　laughter。　Percy　stared　at　him；　seemingly　incapable　of　moving　or　speaking。　Wharton　stepped　back　to　the　bars　of　his　cell；　looked　down　at　the　dark　splotch　on　the　front　of　Percy's　trousers　…　it　was　small　but　it　was　there；　and　no　question　about　what　it　was　…　and　grinned。　〃Somebody　ought　to　buy　the　tough　boy　a　didy；〃　he　said；　and　went　back　to　his　bunk；　chuffing　laughter。　
Brutal　went　down　to　Delacroix's　cell；　but　the　Cajun　had　ducked　inside　and　thrown　himself　on　his　bunk　before　Brutal　could　get　there。　
I　reached　out　and　grasped　Percy's　shoulder。　〃Percy…〃　I　began；　but　that　was　as　far　as　I　got。　He　came　to　life；　shaking　my　hand　off。　He　looked　down　at　the　front　of　his　pants；　saw　the　spot　spreading　there；　and　blushed　a　dark；　fiery　red。　He　looked　up　at　me　again；　then　at　Harry　and　Dean。　I　remember　being　glad　that　Old　Toot…Toot　was　gone。　If　he'd　been　around；　the　story　would　have　been　all　over　the　prison　in　a　single　day。　And；　given　Percy's　last　name…an　unfortunate　one；　in　this　context　…　it　was　a　story　that　would　have　been　told　with　the　relish　of　high　glee　for　years　to　e。　
〃You　talk　about　this　to　anyone；　and　you'll　all　be　on　the　breadlines　in　a　week；〃　he　whispered　fiercely。　It　was　the　sort　of　crack　that　would　have　made　me　want　to　swat　him　under　other　circumstances；　but　under　these；　I　only　pitied　him。　I　think　he　saw　that　pity；　and　it　made　it　worse　with　him　…　like　having　an　open　wound　scoured　with　tles。　
'〃What　goes　on　here　stays　here；〃　Dean　said　quietly。　〃You　don't　have　to　worry　about　that。〃　
Percy　looked　back　over　his　shoulder；　toward　Delacroix's　cell。　Brutal　was　just　locking　the　door；　and　from　inside；　deadly　clear；　we　could　still　hear　Delacroix　giggling。　Percy's　look　was　as　black　as　thunder。　I　thought　of　telling　him　that　you　reaped　what　you　sowed　in　this　life；　and　then　decided　this　might　not　be　the　right　time　for　a　scripture　lesson。　
〃As　for　him　…　〃　he　began；　but　never　finished。　He　left；　instead；　head　down；　to　go　into　the　storage　room　and　look　for　a　dry　pair　of　pants。　
〃He's　so　purty；〃　Wharton　said　in　a　dreamy　voice。　Harry　told　him　to　shut　the　fuck　up　before　he　went　down　to　the　restraint　room　just　on　general　damned　principles。　Wharton　folded　his　arms　on　his　chest；　closed　his　eyes；　and　appeared　to　go　to　sleep。　
9。　
The　night　before　Delacroix's　execution　came　down　hotter　and　muggier　than　ever　…　eighty…one　degrees　by　the　thermometer　outside　the　Admin　readyroom　window　when　I　clocked　in　at　six。　Eighty…one　degrees　at　the　end　of　October；　think　of　that；　and　thunder　rumbling　in　the　west　like　it　does　in　July。　I'd　met　a　member　of　my　congregation　in　town　that　afternoon；　and　he　had　asked　me；　with　apparent　seriousness；　if　I　thought　such　unseasonable　weather　could　be　a　sign　of　the　Last　Times。　I　said　that　I　was　sure　not；　but　it　crossed　my　mind　that　it　was　Last　Times　for　Eduard　Delacroix；　all　right。　Yes　indeed　it　was。　
Bill　Dodge　was　standing　in　the　door　to　the　exercise　yard；　drinking　coffee　and　smoking　him　a　little　smoke。　He　looked　around　at　me　and　said；　〃Well；　lookit　here。　Paul　Edgebe；　big　as　life　and　twice　as　ugly。〃　
〃How'd　the　day　go；　Billy？〃　
〃All　right。〃　
〃Delacroix？〃　
〃Fine。　He　seems　to　understand　it's　tomorrow；　and　yet　it's　like　he　don't　understand。　You　know　how　most　of　em　are　when　the　end　finally　es　for　them。〃　
I　nodded。　〃Wharton？'　
Bill　laughed。　〃What　a　edian。　Makes　Jack　Benny　sound　like　a　Quaker。　He　told　Rolfe　Wettermark　that　he　ate　strawberry　jam　out　of　his　wife's　pussy。〃　
〃What　did　Rolfe　say？〃　
〃That　he　wasn't　married。　Said　it　must　have　been　his　mother　Wharton　was　thinking　of。〃　
I　laughed；　and　hard。　That　really　was　funny；　in　a　low　sort　of　way。　And　it　was　good　just　to　be　able　to　laugh　without　feeling　like　someone　was　lighting　matches　way　down　low　in　my　gut。　Bill　laughed　with　me；　then　turned　the　rest