绿里奇迹(英文版)-第32部分

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But　Percy　apparently　subscribed　to　that　old　axiom　about　how　you　should　get　right　back　on　the　horse　that　had　thrown　you；　because　here　he　came　through　the　door　at　six　minutes　past　seven；　resplendent　in　his　blue　uniform；　with　his　sidearm　on　one　hip　and　his　hickory　stick　in　its　ridiculous　custom…made　holster　on　the　other。　He　punched　his　time…card；　then　looked　around　at　us　warily　（except　for　Dean；　who　hadn't　e　back　from　the　infirmary　yet）。　〃My　starter　busted；〃　he　said。　〃I　had　to　crank。…〃　
〃Aw；〃　Harry　said；　〃po'　baby。〃　
〃Should　have　stayed　home　and　got　the　cussed　thing　fixed；〃　Brutal　said　blandly。　〃We　wouldn't　want　you　straining　your　arm　none；　would　we；　boys？〃　
〃Yeah；　you'd　like　that；　wouldn't　you？〃　Percy　sneered；　but　I　thought　he　seemed　reassured　by　the　relative　mildness　of　Brutal's　response。　That　was　good。　For　the　next　few　hours　we'd　have　to　walk　a　line　with　him　…　not　too　hostile；　but　not　too　friendly；　either。　After　last　night；　he'd　find　anything　even　approaching　warmth　suspect。　We　weren't　going　to　get　him　with　his　guard　down；　we　all　knew　that；　but　I　thought　we　could　catch　him　with　it　a　long　piece　from　all　the　way　up　if　we　played　things　just　right。　It　was　important　that　we　move　fast；　but　it　was　also　important　…　to　me；　at　least　…　that　nobody　be　hurt。　Not　even　Percy　Wetmore。　
Dean　came　back　and　gave　me　a　little　nod。　
〃Percy；〃　I　said；　〃I　want　you　to　go　on　in　the　storeroom　and　mop　down　the　floor。　Stairs　to　the　tunnel；　too。　Then　you　can　write　your　report　on　last　night。〃　
〃That　should　be　creative；〃　Brutal　remarked；　hooking　his　thumbs　into　his　belt　and　looking　up　at　the　ceiling。　
〃You　guys　are　funnier'n　a　fuck　in　church；〃　Percy　said；　but　beyond　that　he　didn't　protest。　Didn't　even　point　out　the　obvious；　which　was　that　the　floor　in　there　had　already　been　washed　at　least　twice　that　day。　My　guess　is　that　he　was　glad　for　the　chance　to　be　away　from　us。　
I　went　over　the　previous　shift　report；　saw　nothing　that　concerned　me；　and　then　took　a　walk　down　to　Wharton's　cell。　He　was　sitting　there　on　his　bunk　with　his　knees　drawn　up　and　his　arms　clasped　around　his　shins；　looking　at　me　with　a　bright；　hostile　smile。　
〃Well；　if　it　ain't　the　big　boss；〃　he　said。　〃Big　as　life　and　twice　as　ugly。　You　look　happier'n　a　pig　kneedeep　in　shit；　Boss　Edgebe。　Wife　give　your　pecker　a　pull　before　you　left　home；　did　she？〃　
〃How　you　doing；　Kid？〃　I　asked　evenly；　and　at　that　he　brightened　for　real。　He　let　go　of　his　legs；　stood　up；　and　stretched。　His　smile　broadened；　and　some　of　the　hostility　went　out　of　it。　
〃Well；　damn！〃　he　said。　〃You　got　my　name　right　for　once！　What's　the　matter　with　you；　Boss　Edgebe？　You　sick　or　sumpin？〃　
No；　not　sick。　I'd　been　sick；　but　John　Coffey　had　taken　care　of　that。　His　hands　no　longer　knew　the　trick　of　tying　a　shoe；　if　they　ever　had；　but　they　knew　other　tricks。　Yes　indeed　they　did。　
〃My　friend；〃　I　told　him；　〃if　you　want　to　be　a　Billy　the　Kid　instead　of　a　Wild　Bill；　it's　all　the　same　to　me。〃　
He　puffed　visibly；　like　one　of　those　loathsome　fish　that　live　in　South　American　rivers　and　can　sting　you　almost　to　death　with　the　spines　along　their　backs　and　sides。　I　dealt　with　a　lot　of　dangerous　men　during　my　time　on　the　Mile；　but　few　if　any　so　repellent　as　William　Wharton；　who　considered　himself　a　great　outlaw；　but　whose　jailhouse　behavior　rarely　rose　above　pissing　or　spitting　through　the　bars　of　his　cell。　So　far　we　hadn't　given　him　the　awed　respect　he　felt　was　his　by　right；　but　on　that　particular　night　I　wanted　him　tractable。　If　that　meant　lathering　on　the　softsoap；　I　would　gladly　lather　it　on。　
〃I　got　a　lot　in　mon　with　the　Kid；　and　you　just　better　believe　it；〃　Wharton　said。　〃I　didn't　get　here　for　stealing　candy　out　of　a　dimestore。〃　As　proud　as　a　man　who's　been　conscripted　into　the　Heroes'　Brigade　of　the　French　Foreign　Legion　instead　of　one　whose　ass　has　been　slammed　into　a　cell　seventy　long　steps　from　the　electric　chair。　〃Where's　my　supper？〃　
〃e　on；　Kid；　report　says　you　had　it　at　five…fifty。　Meatloaf　with　gravy；　mashed；　peas。　You　don't　con　me　that　easy。〃　
He　laughed　expansively　and　sat　down　on　his　bunk　again。　〃Put　on　the　radio；　then。〃　He　said　radio　in　the　way　people　did　back　then　when　they　were　joking；　so　it　rhymed　with　the　fifties　slang　word　〃Daddy…O。〃　
It's　funny　how　much　a　person　can　remember　about　times　when　his　nerves　were　tuned　so　tight　they　almost　sang。　
〃Maybe　later；　big　boy；〃　I　said。　I　stepped　away　from　his　cell　and　looked　down　the　corridor。　Brutal　had　strolled　down　to　the　far　end；　where　he　checked　to　make　sure　the　restraint…room　door　was　on　the　single　lock　instead　of　the　double。　I　knew　it　was；　because　I'd　already　checked　it　myself。　Later　on；　we'd　want　to　be　able　to　open　that　door　as　quick　as　we　could。　There　would　be　no　time　spent　emptying　out　the　attic…type　rick…rack　that　had　accumulated　in　there　over　the　years；　we'd　taken　it　out；　sorted　it；　and　stored　it　in　other　places　not　long　after　Wharton　joined　our　happy　band。　It　had　seemed　to　us　the　room　with　the　soft　walls　was　apt　to　get　a　lot　of　use；　at　least　until　〃Billy　the　Kid〃　strolled　the　Mile。　
John　Coffey；　who　would　usually　have　been　lying　down　at　this　time；　long；　thick　legs　dangling　and　face　to　the　wall；　was　sitting　on　the　end　of　his　bunk　with　his　hands　clasped；　watching　Brutal　with　an　alertness　…　a　thereness　…　that　wasn't　typical　of　him。　He　wasn't　leaking　around　the　eyes；　either。　
Brutal　tried　the　door　to　the　restraint　room；　then　came　on　back　up　the　Mile。　Hie　glanced　at　Coffey　as　he　passed　Coffey's　cell；　and　Coffey　said　a　curious　thing：　〃Sure。　I'd　like　a　ride。〃　As　if　responding　to　something　Brutal　had　said。　
Brutal's　eyes　met　mine。　He　knows；　I　could　almost　hear　him　saying。　Somehow　he　knows。　
I　shrugged　and　spread　my　hands；　as　if　to　say　Of　course　he　knows。　
5。　
Old　Toot…Toot　made　his　last　trip　of　the　night　down　to　E　Block　with　his　cart　at　about　quarter　to　nine。　We　bought　enough　of　his　crap　to　make　him　smile　with　avarice。　
〃Say；　you　boys　seen　that　mouse？〃　he　asked。　
We　shook　our　heads。　
〃Maybe　Pretty　Boy　has；〃　Toot　said；　and　gestured　with　his　head　in　the　direction　of　the　storage　room；　where　Percy　was　either　washing　the　floor；　writing　his　report；　or　picking　his　ass。　
〃What　do　you　care？　It's　none　of　your　affair；　either　way；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Roll　wheels；　Toot。　You're　stinkin　the　place　up。〃　
Toot　smiled　his　peculiarly　unpleasant　smile；　toothless　and　sunken；　and　made　a　business　of　sniffing　the　air。　〃That　ain't　me　you　smell；〃　he　said。　〃That　be　Del；　sayin　so…long。〃　
Cackling；　he　rolled　his　cart　out　the　door　and　into　the　exercise　yard。　And　he　went　on　rolling　it　for　another　ten　years；　long　after　I　was　gone　…　hell；　long　after　Cold　Mountain　was　gone　…　selling　Moon　Pies　and　pops　to　the　guards　and　prisoners　who　could　afford　them。　Sometimes　even　now　I　hear　him　in　my　dreams；　yelling　that　he's　fryin；　he's　fryin；　he's　a　done　tom　turkey。　
The　time　stretched　out　after　Toot　was　gone；　the　clock　seeming　to　crawl。　We　had　the　radio　for　an　hour　and　a　half；　Wharton　braying　laughter　at　Fred　Allen　and　Allen's　Alley；　even　though　I　doubt　like　hell　he　understood　many　of　the　jokes。　John　Coffey　sat　on　the　end　of　his　bunk；　hands　clasped；　eyes　rarely　leaving　whoever　was　at　the　duty　desk。　I　have　seen　men　waiting　that　way　in　bus　stations　for　their　buses　to　be　called。　
Percy　came　in　from　the　storage　room　around　quarter　to　eleven　and　handed　me　a　report　which　had　been　laboriously　written　in　pencil。　Eraser…crumbs　lay　over　the　sheet　of　paper　in　gritty　smears。　He　saw　me　run　my　thumb　over　one　of　these；　and　said　hastily：　〃That's　just　a　first　pass；　like。　I'm　going　to　copy　it　over。　What　do　you　think？〃　
What　I　thought　was　that　it　was　the　most　outrageous　goddam　whitewash　I'd　read　in　all　my　born　days。　What　I　told　him　was　that　it　was　fine；　and　he　went　away；　satisfied。　
Dean　and　Harry　played　cribbage；　talking　too　loud；　squabbling　over　the　count　too　often；　and　looking　at　the　crawling　hands　of　the　clock　every　five　seconds　or　so。　On　at　least　one　of　their　games　that　night；　they　appeared　to　go　around　the　board　three　times　instead　of　twice。　There　was　so　much　tension　in　the　air　that　I　felt　I　could　almost　have　carved　it　like　clay；　and　the　only　people　who　didn't　seem　to　feel　it　were　Percy　and　Wild　Bill。　
Then　it　got　to　be　ten　of　twelve；　I　could　stand　it　no　longer　and　gave　Dean　a　little　nod。　He　went　into　my　office　with　a　bottle　of　R。C。　Cola　bought　off　Toot's　cart；　and　came　back　out　a　minute　or　two　later。　The　cola　was　now　in　a　tin　cup；　which　a　prisoner　can't　break　and　then　slash　with。　
I　took　it　and　glanced　around。　Harry；　Dean；　and　Brutal　were　all　watching　me。　So；　for　that　matter；　was　John　Coffey。　Not　Percy；　though。　Percy　had　returned　to　the　storage　room；　where　he　probably　felt　more　at　ease　on　this　particular　night。　I　gave　the　tin　cup　a　quick　sniff　and　got　no　odor　except　for　the　R。C。；　which　had　an　odd　but　pleasant　cinnamon　smell　back　in　those　days。　
I　took　it　down　to　Wharton's　cell。　He　was　lying　on　his　bunk。　He　wasn't　masturbating　…　yet；　anyway　…　but　had　raised　quite　a　boner　inside　his　shorts　and　was　giving　it　a　good　healthy　twang　every　now　and　again；　like　a　dopey　bass…fiddler　hammering　an　extrathick　E…string。　
〃Kid；〃　I　said。　
〃Don't　bother　me；〃　he　said。　
〃Okay；〃　I　agreed。　〃I　brought　you　a　pop　for　behaving　like　a　human　being　all　night　…　damn　near　a　record　for　you　…　but　I'll　just　drink　it　myself。〃　
I　made　as　if　to　do　just　that；　raising　the　tin　cup　（battered　all　up　and　down　the　sides　from　many　angry　bangings　on　many　sets　of　cell　bars）　to　my　lips。　Wharton　was　off　the　bunk　in　a　flash；　which　didn't　surprise　me。　It　wasn't　a　high…risk　bluff；　most　deep　cons　…　lifers；　rapists；　and　the　men　slated　for　Old　Sparky　…　are　pigs　for　their　sweets；　and　this　one　was　no　exception。　
〃Gimme　that；　you　clunk；〃　Wharton　said。　He　spoke　as　if　he　were　the　foreman　and　I　was　just　another　lowly　peon。　〃Give　it　to　the　Kid。〃　
I　held　it　just　outside　the　bars；　letting　him　be　the　one　to　reach　through。　Doing　it　the　other　way　around　is　a　recipe　for　disaster；　as　any　long…time　prison　screw　will　tell　you。　That　was　the　kind　of　stuff　we　thought　of　without　even　knowing　we　were　thinking　of　it　…　the　way　we　knew　not　to　let　the　cons　call　us　by　our　first　names；　the　way　we　knew　that　the　sound　of　rapidly　jingling　keys　meant　trouble　on　the　block；　because　it　was　the　sound　of　a　prison　guard　running　and　prison　guards　never　run　unless　there's　trouble　in　the　valley。　Stuff　Percy　Wetmore　was　never　going　to　get　wise　to。　
Tonight；　however；　Wharton　had　no　interest　in　grabbing　or　choking。　He　snatched　the　tin　cup；　downed　the　pop　in　three　long　swallows；　then　voiced　a　resounding　belch。　〃Excellent！〃　he　said。　
I　held　my　hand　out。　〃Cup。〃　
He　held　it　for　a　moment；　teasing　with　his　eyes。　〃Suppose　I　keep　it？〃　
I　shrugged。　〃We'll　e　in　and　take　it　back。　You'll　go　down　to　the　little　room。　And　you　will　have　drunk　your　last　R。C。　Unless　they　serve　it　down　in　hell；　that　is。〃　
His　smile　faded。　〃I　don't　like　jokes　about　hell；　screwtip。〃　He　thrust　the　cup　out　through　the　bars。　〃Here。　Take　it。〃　
I　took　it。　From　behind　me；　Percy　said：　〃Why　in　God's　name　did　you　want　to　give　a　lugoon　like　him　a　soda…pop？〃　
Because　it　was　loaded　with　enough　infirmary　dope　to　put　him　on　his　back　for　forty…eight　hours；　and　he　never　tasted　a　thing；　I　thought。　
〃With　Paul；〃　Brutal　said；　〃the　quality　of　mercy　is　not　strained；　it　droppeth　like　the　gentle　rain　from　heaven。〃　
〃Huh？〃　Percy　asked；　frowning。　
〃Means　he's　a　soft　touch。　Always　has　been；　always　will　be。　Want　to　play　a　game　of　Crazy　Eights；　Percy？〃　
Percy　snorted。　〃Except　for　Go　Fish　and　Old　Maid；　that's　the　stupidest　card…game　ever　made。〃　
〃That's　why　I　thought　you　might　like　a　few　hands；〃　Brutal　said；　smiling　sweetly。　
〃Everybody's　a　Wisenheimer；〃　Percy　said；　and　sulked　off　into　my　office。　I　didn't　care　much　for　the　little　rat　parking　his　ass　behind　my　desk；　but　I　kept　my　mouth　shut。　
The　clock　crawled。　Twelve…twenty；　twelve…thirty。　At　twelve…forty；　John　Coffey　got　up　off　his　bunk　and　stood　at　his　cell　door；　hands　grasping　the　bars　loosely。　Brutal　and　I　walked　down　to　Wharton's　cell　and　looked　in。　He　lay　there　on　his　bunk；　smiling　up　at　the　ceiling。　His　eyes　were　open；　but　they　looked　like　big　glass　balls。　One　hand　lay　on　his　chest；　the　other　dangled　limply　off　the　side　of　his　bunk；　knuckles　brushing　the　floor。　
〃Gosh；〃　Brutal　said；　〃from　Billy　the　Kid　to　Willie　the　Weeper　in　less　than　an　hour。　I　wonder　how　many　of　those　morphine　pills　Dean　put　in　that　tonic。〃　
〃Enough；〃　I　said。　There　was　a　little　tremble　in　my　voice。　I　don't　know　if　Brutal　heard　it；　but　I　sure　did。　〃e　on。　We're　going　to　do　it。〃　
〃You　don't　want　to　wait　for　beautiful　there　to　pass　out？〃　
〃He's　passed　out　now；　Brute。　He's　just　too　buzzed　to　close　his　eyes。〃　
〃You're　the　boss。〃　He　looked　around　for　Harry；　but　Harry　was　already　there。　Dean　was　sitting　boltupright　at　the　duty　desk；　shuffling　the　cards　so　hard　and　fast　it　was　a　wonder　they　didn't　catch　fire；　throwing　a　little　glance　to　his　left；　at　my　office；　with　every　flutter…shuffle。　Keeping　an　eye　out　for　Percy。　
〃Is　it　time？〃　Harry　asked。　His　long；　horsey　face　was　very　pale　above　his　blue　uniform　blouse；　but　he　looked　determined。　
〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃If　we're　going　through　with　it；　it's　time。〃　
Harry　crossed　himself　and　kissed　his　thumb。　Then　he　went　down　to　the　restraint　room；　unlocked　it；　and　came　back　with　the　straitjacket。　He　handed　it　to　Brutal。　The　three　of　us　walked　up　the　Green　Mile。　Coffey　stood　at　his　cell　door；　watching　us　go；　and　said　not　a　word。　When　we　reached　the　duty　desk；　Brutal　put　the　straitjacket　behind　his　back；　which　was　broad　enough　to　conceal　it　easily。　
〃Luck；〃　Dean　said。　He　was　as　pale　as　Harry；　and　looked　just　as　determined。　
Percy　was　behind　my　desk；　all　right；　sitting　in　my　chair　and　frowning　over　the　book　he'd　been　toting　around　with　him　the　last　few　nights　…　not　Argosy　or　Stag　but　Caring　for　the　Mental　Patient　in　Institutions。　You　would　have　thought；　from　the　guilty；　worried　glance　he　threw　our　way　when　we　walked　in；　that　it　had　been　The　Last　Days　of　Sodom　and　Gomorrah。　
〃What？〃　he　asked；　closing　the　book　in　a　hurry。　〃What　do　you　want？〃　
〃To　talk　to　you；　Percy；〃　I　said；　〃that's　all。〃　
But　he　read　a　hell　of　a　lot　more　than　a　desire　to　talk　on　our　faces；　and　was　up　like　a　shot；　hurrying　…　not　quite　running；　but　almost　…　toward　the　open　door　to　the　storeroom。　He　thought　we　had　e　to　give　him　a　ragging　at　the　very　least；　and　more　likely　a　good　roughing　up。　
Harry　cut　around　behind　him　and　blocked　the　doorway；　arms　folded　on　his　chest。　
〃Saaay！〃　Percy　turned　to　me；　alarmed　but　trying　not　to　show　it。　〃What　is　this？〃　
〃Don't　ask；　Percy；〃　I　said。　I　had　thought　I'd　be　okay　…　back　to　normal；　anyway…once　we　actually　got　rolling　on　this　crazy　business；　but　it　wasn't　working　out　that　way。　I　couldn't　believe　what　I　was　doing。　It　was　like　a　bad　dream。　I　kept　expecting　my　wife　to　shake　me　awake　and　tell　me　I'd　been　moaning　in　my　sleep。　〃It'll　be　easier　if　you　just　go　along　with　it。　
〃What's　Howell　got　behind　his　back？〃　Percy　asked　in　a　ragged　voice。　turning　to　get　a　better　look　at　Brutal。　
〃Nothing；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Well　。。。　this；　I　suppose…！〃　
He　whipped　the　straitjacket　out　and　shook　it　beside　one　hip；　like　a　matador　shaking　his　cape　to　make　the　bull　charge。　
Percy's　eyes　widened；　and　he　lunged。　He　meant　to　run；　but　Harry　grabbed　his　arms　and　a　lunge　was　all　he　was　able　to　manage。　
〃Let　go　of　me！〃　Percy　shouted；　trying　to　jerk　out　of　Harry's　grasp。　It　wasn't　goin