绿里奇迹(英文版)-第24部分

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And　his　voice；　had　the　same　quality；　which　was　why；　I　suppose；　I　didn't　recognize　it　as　belonging　to　Coffey　at　first。　He　seemed　a　different　man　from　the　lost；　weepy　soul　that　had　occupied　this　cell　for　the　last　few　weeks。　
〃Give　im　to　me；　Mr。　Edgebe！　While　there's　still　time！〃　
Then　I　remembered　what　he'd　done　for　me；　and　understood。　I　supposed　it　couldn't　hurt；　but　I　didn't　think　it　would　do　much　good；　either。　When　I　picked　the　mouse　up；　I　winced　at　the　feel…there　were　so　many　splintered　bones　poking　at　various　spots　on　Mr。　Jingles's　hide　that　it　was　like　picking　up　a　fur…covered　pincushion。　This　was　no　urinary　infection。　Still　…　
〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Brutal　asked　as　I　put　Mr。　Jingles　in　Coffey's　huge　right　hand。　〃What　the　hell？〃　
Coffey　pulled　the　mouse　back　through　the　bars。　He　lay　limp　on　Coffey's　palm；　tail　hanging　over　the　arc　between　Coffey's　thumb　and　first　finger；　the　tip　twitching　weakly　in　midair。　Then　Coffey　covered　his　right　hand　with　his　left；　creating　a　kind　of　cup　in　which　the　mouse　lay。　We　could　no　longer　see　Mr。　Jingles　himself；　only　the　tail；　hanging　down　and　twitching　at　the　tip　like　a　dying　pendulum。　Coffey　lifted　his　hands　toward　his　face；　spreading　the　fingers　of　the　right　as　he　did　so；　creating　spaces　like　those　between　prison　bars。　The　tail　of　the　mouse　now　hung　from　the　side　of　his　hands　that　was　facing　us。　
Brutal　stepped　next　to　me；　still　holding　the　colored　spool　between　his　fingers。　〃What's　he　think　he's　doing？〃　
〃Shh；〃　I　said。　
Delacroix　had　stopped　screaming。　〃Please；　John；〃　he　whispered。　〃Oh　Johnny；　help　him；　please　help　him；　oh　s'il　vous　plait。〃　
Dean　and　Harry　joined　us；　Harry　with　our　old　deck　of　Airplane　cards　still　in　one　hand。　〃What's　going　on？〃　Dean　asked；　but　I　only　shook　my　head。　I　was　feeling　hypnotized　again；　damned　if　I　wasn't。　
Coffey　put　his　mouth　between　two　of　his　fingers　and　inhaled　sharply。　For　a　moment　everything　hung　suspended。　Then　he　raised　his　head　away　from　his　hands　and　I　saw　the　face　of　a　man　who　looked　desperately　sick；　or　in　terrible　pain。　His　eyes　were　sharp　and　blazing；　his　upper　teeth　bit　at　his　full　lower　lip；　his　dark　face　had　faded　to　an　unpleasant　color　that　looked　like　ash　stirred　into　mud。　He　made　a　choked　sound　way　back　in　his　throat。　
〃Dear　Jesus　Lord　and　Savior；〃　Brutal　whispered。　His　eyes　appeared　to　be　in　danger　of　dropping　right　out　of　his　face。　
〃What？〃　Harry　almost　barked。　〃What？〃　
〃The　tail！　Don't　you　see　it？　The　tail！〃　
Mr。　Jingles's　tail　was　no　longer　a　dying　pendulum；　it　was　snapping　briskly　from　side　to　side；　like　the　tail　of　a　cat　in　a　bird…catching　mood。　And　then；　from　inside　Coffey's　cupped　hands；　came　a　perfectly　familiar　squeak。　
Coffey　made　that　choking；　gagging　sound　again；　then　turned　his　head　to　one　side　like　a　man　that　has　coughed　up　a　wad　of　phlegm　and　means　to　spit　it　out。　Instead；　he　exhaled　a　cloud　of　black　insects　…　I　think　they　were　insects；　and　the　others　said　the　same；　but　to　this　day　I　am　not　sure　…　from　his　mouth　and　nose。　They　boiled　around　him　in　a　dark　cloud　that　temporarily　obscured　his　features。　
〃Christ；　what're　those？〃　Dean　asked　in　a　shrill；　scared　voice。　
〃It's　all　right；〃　I　heard　myself　say。　〃Don't　panic；　it's　all　right；　in　a　few　seconds　they'll　be　gone。〃　
As　when　Coffey　had　cured　my　urinary　infection　for　me；　the　〃bugs〃　turned　white　and　then　disappeared。　
〃Holy　shit；〃　Harry　whispered。　
〃Paul？〃　Brutal　asked　in　an　unsteady　voice。　〃Paul？〃　
Coffey　looked　okay　again　…　like　a　fellow　who　has　successfully　coughed　up　a　wad　of　meat　that　has　been　choking　him。　He　bent　down；　put　his　cupped　hands　on　the　floor；　peeked　through　his　fingers；　then　opened　them。　Mr。　Jingles；　absolutely　all　right…not　a　single　twist　to　his　backbone；　not　a　single　lump　poking　at　his　hide　…　ran　out。　He　paused　for　a　moment　at　the　door　of　Coffey's　cell；　then　ran　across　the　Green　Mile　to　Delacroix's　cell。　As　he　went；　I　noticed　there　were　still　beads　of　blood　in　his　whiskers。　
Delacroix　gathered　him　up；　laughing　and　crying　at　the　same　time；　covering　the　mouse　with　shameless；　smacking　kisses。　Dean　and　Harry　and　Brutal　watched　with　silent　wonder。　Then　Brutal　stepped　forward　and　handed　the　colored　spool　through　the　bars。　Delacroix　didn't　see　it　at　first；　he　was　too　taken　up　with　Mr。　Jingles。　He　was　like　a　father　whose　son　has　been　saved　from　drowning。　Brutal　tapped　him　on　the　shoulder　with　the　spool。　Delacroix　looked；　saw　it；　took　it；　and　went　back　to　Mr。　Jingles　again；　stroking　his　fur　and　devouring　him　with　his　eyes；　needing　to　constantly　refresh　his　perception　that　yes；　the　mouse　was　all　right；　the　mouse　was　whole　and　fine　and　all　right。　
〃Toss　it；〃　Brutal　said。　〃I　want　to　see　how　he　runs。〃　
〃He　all　right；　Boss　Howell；　he　all　right；　praise　God……！〃　
〃Toss　it；〃　Brutal　repeated。　〃Mind　me；　Del。〃　
Delacroix　bent；　clearly　reluctant；　clearly　not　wanting　to　let　Mr。　Jingles　out　of　his　hands　again；　at　least　not　yet。　Then；　very　gently；　he　tossed　the　spool。　It　rolled　across　the　cell；　past　the　Corona　cigar　box；　and　to　the　wall。　Mr。　Jingles　was　after　it；　but　not　quite　with　the　speed　he　had　shown　previously。　He　appeared　to　be　limping　just　a　bit　on　his　left　rear　leg；　and　that　was　what　struck　me　the　hardest　…　it　was；　I　suppose；　what　made　it　real。　That　little　limp。　
He　got　to　the　spool；　though；　got　to　it　just　fine　and　nosed　it　back　to　Delacroix　with　all　his　old　enthusiasm。　I　turned　to　John　Coffey；　who　was　standing　at　his　cell　door　and　smiling。　It　was　a　tired　smile；　and　not　what　I'd　call　really　happy；　but　the　sharp　urgency　I'd　seen　in　his　face　as　he　begged　for　the　mouse　to　be　given　to　him　was　gone；　and　so　was　the　look　of　pain　and　fear；　as　if　he　were　choking。　It　was　our　john　Coffey　again；　with　his　not…quite…there　face　and　strange；　far…looking　eyes。　
〃You　helped　it；〃　I　said。　〃Didn't　you；　big　boy？〃　
〃That's　right；〃　Coffey　said。　The　smile　widened　a　little；　and　for　a　moment　or　two　it　was　happy。　〃I　helped　it。　I　helped　Del's　mouse。　I　helped　。。。〃　He　trailed　off；　unable　to　remember　the　name。　
〃Mr。　Jingles；〃　Dean　said。　He　was　looking　at　John　with　careful；　wondering　eyes；　as　if　he　expected　Coffey　to　burst　into　flames　or　maybe　begin　to　float　in　his　cell。　
〃That's　right；〃　Coffey　said。　〃Mr。　Jingles。　He's　a　circus　mouse。　Goan　live　in　ivy…glass。〃　
〃You　bet　your　bobcat；〃　Harry　said；　joining　us　in　looking　at　John　Coffey。　Behind　us；　Delacroix　lay　down　on　his　bunk　with　Mr。　Jingles　on　his　chest。　Del　was　crooning　to　him；　singing　him　some　French　song　that　sounded　like　a　lullaby。　
Coffey　looked　up　the　Green　Mile　toward　the　duty　desk　and　the　door　which　led　into　my　office　and　the　storage　room　beyond。　〃Boss　Percy's　bad；〃　he　said。　〃Boss　Percy's　mean。　He　stepped　on　Del's　mouse。　He　stepped　on　Mr。　Jingles。〃　
And　then；　before　we　could　say　anything　else　to　him　…　if　we　could　have　thought　of　anything　to　say　…　John　Coffey　went　back　to　his　bunk；　lay　down；　and　rolled　on　his　side　to　face　the　wall。　
3。　
Percy　was　standing　with　his　back　to　us　when　Brutal　and　I　came　into　the　storage　room　about　twenty　minutes　later。　He　had　found　a　can　of　paste　furniture　polish　on　a　shelf　above　the　hamper　where　we　put　our　dirty　uniforms　（and；　sometimes；　our　civilian　clothes；　the　prison　laundry　didn't　care　what　it　washed）；　and　was　polishing　the　oak　arms　and　legs　of　the　electric　chair。　This　probably　sounds　bizarre　to　you；　perhaps　even　macabre；　but　to　Brutal　and　me；　it　seemed　the　most　normal　thing　Percy　had　done　all　night。　Old　Sparky　would　be　meeting　his　public　tomorrow；　and。　Percy　would　at　least　appear　to　be　in　charge。　
〃Percy；〃　I　said　quietly。　
He　turned　the　little　tune　he'd　been　humming　dying　in　his　throat；　and　looked　at　us。　I　didn't　see　the　fear　I'd　expected；　at　least　not　at　first。　I　realized　that　Percy　looked　older；　somehow。　And；　I　thought；　John　Coffey　was　right。　He　looked　mean。　Meanness　is　like　an　addicting　drug　…　no　one　on　earth　is　more　qualified　to　say　that　than　me　…　and　I　thought　that；　after　a　certain　amount　of　experimentation；　Percy　had　gotten　hooked　on　it。　He　liked　what　he　had　done　to　Delacroix's　mouse。　What　he　liked　even　more　was　Delacroix's　dismayed　screams。　
〃Don't　start　in　on　me；〃　he　said　in　a　tone　of　voice　that　was　almost　pleasant。　〃I　mean；　hey；　it　was　just　a　mouse。　It　never　belonged　here　in　the　first　place；　as　you　boys　well　know。〃　
〃The　mouse　is　fine；〃　I　said。　My　heart　was　thumping　hard　in　my　chest　but　I　made　my　voice　e　out　mild；　almost　disinterested。　〃Just　fine。　Running　and　squeaking　and　chasing　its　spool　again。　You're　no　better　at　mouse…killing　than　you　are　at　most　of　the　other　things　you　do　around　here。〃　
He　was　looking　at　me；　amazed　and　disbelieving。　〃You　expect　me　to　believe　that？　The　goddam　thing　crunched！　I　heard　it！　So　you　can　just………！〃　
〃Shut　up。〃　
He　stared　at　me；　his　eyes　wide。　〃What？　What　did　you　say　to　me？〃　
I　took　a　step　closer　to　him。　I　could　feel　a　vein　throbbing　in　the　middle　of　my　forehead。　I　couldn't　remember　the　last　time　I'd　felt　so　angry。　〃Aren't　you　glad　Mr。　Jingles　is　okay？　After　all　the　talks　we've　had　about　how　our　job　is　to　keep　the　prisoners　calm；　especially　when　it　gets　near　the　end　for　them；　I　thought　you'd　be　glad。　Relieved。　With　Del　having　to　take　the　walk　tomorrow；　and　all。〃　
Percy　looked　from　me　to　Brutal；　his　studied　calmness　dissolving　into　uncertainty。　〃What　the　hell　game　do　you　boys　think　you're　playing？〃　he　asked。　
〃None　of　this　is　a　game；　my　friend；〃　Brutal　said。　〃You　thinking　it　is　。。。　well；　that's　just　one　of　the　reasons　you　can't　be　trusted。　You　want　to　know　the　absolute　truth？　I　think　you're　a　pretty　sad　case。〃　
〃You　want　to　watch　it；〃　Percy　said。　Now　there　was　a　rawness　in　his　voice。　Fear　creeping　back　in；　after　all　…　fear　of　what　we　might　want　with　him；　fear　of　what　we　might　be　up　to。　I　was　glad　to　hear　it。　It　would　make　him　easier　to　deal　with。　〃I　know　people。　Important　people。〃　
〃So　you　say；　but　you're　such　a　dreamer；〃　Brutal　said。　He　sounded　as　if　he　was　on　the　verge　of　laughter。　
Percy　dropped　the　polishing　rag　onto　the　seat　of　the　chair　with　the　clamps　attached　to　the　arms　and　legs。　〃I　killed　that　mouse；〃　he　said　in　a　voice　that　was　not　quite　steady。　
〃Go　on　and　check　for　yourself；〃　I　said。　〃It's　a　free　country。〃　
〃I　will；〃　he　said。　〃I　will。〃　
He　stalked　past　us；　mouth　set；　small　hands　（Wharton　was　right；　they　were　pretty）　fiddling　with　his　b。　He　went　up　the　steps　and　ducked　through　into　my　office。　Brutal　and　I　stood　by　Old　Sparky；　waiting　for　him　to　e　back　and　not　talking。　I　don't　know　about　Brutal；　but　I　couldn't　think　of　a　thing　to　say。　I　didn't　even　know　how　to　think　about　what　we　had　just　seen。　
Three　minutes　passed。　Brutal　picked　up　Percy's　rag　and　began　to　polish　the　thick　back…slats　of　the　electric　chair。　He　had　time　to　finish　one　and　start　another　before　Percy　came　back。　He　stumbled　and　almost　fell　ing　down　the　steps　from　the　office　to　the　storageroom　floor；　and　when　he　crossed　to　us　he　came　at　an　uneven　strut。　His　face　was　shocked　and　unbelieving。　
〃You　switched　them；〃　he　said　in　a　shrill；　accusatory　voice。　〃You　switched　mice　somehow；　you　bastards。　You're　playing　with　me；　and　you're　going　to　be　goddam　sorry　if　you　don't　stop！　I'll　see　you　on　the　goddam　breadlines　if　you　don't　stop！　Who　do　you　think　you　are？〃　
He　quit；　panting　for　breath；　his　hands　clenched。　
〃I'll　tell　you　who　we　are；〃　I　said。　〃We're　the　people　you　work　with；　Percy　。。。　but　not　for　very　much　longer。〃　I　reached　out　and　clamped　my　hands　on　his　shoulders。　Not　real　hard；　but　it　was　a　clamp；　all　right。　Yes　it　was。　
Percy　reached　up　to　break　it。　〃Take　your…〃　
Brutal　grabbed　his　right　hand　…　the　whole　thing；　small　and　soft　and　white；　disappeared　into　Brutal's　tanned　fist。　〃Shut　up　your　cakehole；　sonny。　If　you　know　what's　good　for　you；　you'll　take　this　one　last　opportunity　to　dig　the　wax　out　of　your　ears。〃　
I　turned　him　around；　lifted　him　onto　the　platform；　then　backed　him　up　until　the　backs　of　his　knees　struck　the　seat　of　the　electric　chair　and　he　had　to　sit　down。　His　calm　was　gone；　the　meanness　and　the　arrogance；　too。　Those　things　were　real　enough；　but　you　have　to　remember　that　Percy　was　very　young。　At　his　age　they　were　still　only　a　thin　veneer；　like　an　ugly　shade　of　enamel　paint。　You　could　still　chip　through。　And　I　judged　that　Percy　was　now　ready　to　listen。　
〃I　want　your　word；〃　I　said。　
〃My　word　about　what？〃　His　mouth　was　still　trying　to　sneer；　but　his　eyes　were　terrified。　The　power　in　the　switch　room　was　locked　off；　but　Old　Sparky's　wooden　seat　had　its　own　power；　and　right　then　I　judged　that　Percy　was　feeling　it。　
〃Your　word　that　if　we　put　you　out　front　for　it　tomorrow　night；　you'll　really　go　on　to　Briar　Ridge　and　leave　us　alone；〃　Brutal　said；　speaking　with　a　vehemence　I　had　never　heard　from　him　before。　〃That　you'll　put　in　for　a　transfer　the　very　next　day。〃　
〃And　if　I　won't？　If　I　should　just　call　up　certain　people　and　tell　them　you're　harassing　me　and　threatening　me？　Bullying　me？〃　
〃We　might　get　the　bum's　rush　if　your　connections　are　as　good　as　you　seem　to　think　they　are；〃　I　said；　〃but　we'd　make　sure　you　left　your　fair　share　of　blood　on　the　floor；　too；　Percy。〃　
〃About　that　mouse？　Huh！　You　think　anyone　is　going　to　care　that　I　stepped　on　a　condemned　murderer's　pet　mouse？　Outside　of　this　looneybin；　that　is？〃　
〃No。　But　three　men　saw　you　just　standing　there　with　your　thumb　up　your　ass　while　Wild　Bill　Wharton　was　trying　to　strangle　Dean　Stanton　with　his　wrist…chains。　About　that　people　will　care；　Percy；　I　promise　you。　About　that　even　your　offsides　uncle　the　governor　is　going　to　care。〃　
Percy's　cheeks　and　brow　flushed　a　patchy　red。　〃You　think　they'd　believe　you？〃　he　asked；　but　his　voice　had　lost　a　lot　of　its　angry　force。　Clearly　he　thought　someone　might　believe　us。　And　Percy　didn't　like　being　in　trouble。　Breaking　the　rules　was　okay。　Getting　caught　breaking　them　was　not。　
〃Well；　I've　got　some　photos　of　Dean's　neck　before　the　bruising　went　down；〃　Brutal　said　…　I　had　no　idea　if　this　was　true　or　not；　but　it　certainly　sounded　good。　〃You　know　what　those　pix　say？　That　Wharton　got　a　pretty　good　shot　at　it　before　anyone　pulled　him　off；　although　you　were　right　there；　and　on　Wharton's　blind　side。　You'd　have　some　hard　questions　to　answer；　wouldn't　you？　And　a　thing　like　that　could　follow　a　man　for　quite　a　spell。　Chances　are　it'd　still　be　there　long　after　his　relatives　were　out　of　the　state　capital　and　back　home　drinking　mint　juleps　on　the　front　porch。　A　man's　work…record　can　be　a　mighty　interesting　thing；　and　a　lot　of　people　get　a　chance　to　look　at　it　over　the　course　of　a　lifetime。〃　
Percy's　eyes　flicked　back　and　forth　mistrustfully　between　us。　His　left　hand　went　to　his　hair　and　smoothed　it。　He　said　nothing；　but　I　thought　we　almost　had　him。　
〃e　on；　let's　quit　this；〃　I　said。　〃You　don't　want　to　be　here　any　more　than　we　want　you　here；　isn't　that　so？〃　
〃I　hate　it　here！〃　he　burst　out。　〃I　hate　the　way　you　treat　me；　the　way　you　never　gave　me　a　chance！〃　
That　last　was　far　from　true；　but　I　judged　this　wasn't　the　time　to　argue　the　matter。　
〃But　I　don't　like　to　be　pushed　around；　either。　My　Daddy　taught　me　that　once　you　start　down　that　road　you　most　likely　end　up　letting　people　push　you　around　your　whole　life。〃　His　eyes；　not　as　pretty　as　his　hands　but　almost；　flashed。　〃I　especially　don't　like　being　pushed　around　by　big　apes　like　this　guy。〃　He　glanced　at　my　old　friend　and　grunted。　〃Brutal　…　you　got　the　right　nickname；　at　least。〃　
〃You　have　to　understand　something；　Percy；〃　I　said。　〃The　way　we　look　at　it；　you've　been　pushing　us　aro