第37部分(第7/7 頁)

you？〃　he　said　happily；　and　then　began　another　verse　of　〃The　Barbecue　Song；〃　making　up　。　There　was　something　going　on　in　there；　all　right。　A　kind　of　green　and　stinking　intelligence　that　was；　in　its　own　way；　almost　brilliant。

I　went　down　to　John　Coffey。　He　wiped　away　his　tears　with　the　heels　of　his　hands。　His　eyes　were　red　and　sore…looking；　and　it　came　to　me　that　he　was　exhausted；　too。　Why　he　should　have　been；　a　man　who　trudged　around　the　exercise　yard　maybe　two　hours　a　day　and　either　sat　or　laid　down　in　his　cell　the　rest　of　the　time；　I　didn't　know；　but　I　didn't　doubt　what　I　was　seeing。　It　was　too　clear。

〃Poor　Del；〃　he　said　in　a　low；　hoarse　voice。　〃Poor　old　Del。〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃Poor　old　Del。　John；　are　you　okay？〃

〃He's　out　of　it；〃　Coffey　said。　〃Del's　out　of　it。　Isn'