第34部分(第2/7 頁)

son　to　take　his　seat　in　the　witness's　section　was　Curtis　Anderson；　Warden　Moores's　stand…in。

At　eleven…thirty；　I　approached　Delacroix's　cell　with　Brutal　and　Dean　walking　slightly　behind　me。　Del　was　sitting　on　his　bunk；　with　Mr。　Jingles　in　his　lap。　The　mouse's　head　was　stretched　forward　toward　the　condemned　man；　his　little　oilspot　eyes　rapt　on　Del's　face。　Del　was　stroking　the　top　of　Mr。　Jingles's　head　between　his　ears。　Large　silent　tears　were　rolling　down　Del's　face；　and　it　was　these　the　mouse　seemed　to　be　peering　at。　Del　looked　up　at　the　sound　of　our　footsteps。　He　was　very　pale。　From　behind　me；　I　sensed　rather　than　saw　John　Coffey　standing　at　his　cell　door；　watching。

Del　winced　at　the　sound　of　my　keys　clashing　against　metal；　but　held　steady；　continuing　to　stroke　Mr。　Jingles's　head；　as　I　turned　the　locks　and　ran　the　door　open。

〃Hi　dere；　Boss　Edgebe；〃　he　said。　〃Hi　dere；　boys。　Say　hi；　Mr。　Jingles。〃　But　Mr。　Jingles　only　continued　to　look　raptly　up　at　the　balding　little　man's　face；　as　if　wondering　at　the　source　of　his　tears。　The　colored　spool　had　been　neatly　laid　aside　in　the　Corona　box　…　laid　aside　for　the　last　time；　I　thought；　and　felt　a　pang。

〃Eduard　Delacroix；　as　an　officer　of　the　court。。。〃

〃Boss　Edgebe？〃

I　thought　about　just　running　on　with　the　set　speech；　then　thought　again。　〃What　is　it；　Del？〃

He　held　the　mouse　out　to　me。　〃Here。　Don't　let　nothing　happen　to　Mr。　Jingles。〃

〃Del；　I　don't　think　he'll　e　to　me。　He's　not　…　〃

〃Mais　oui；　he　say　he　will。　He　say　he　know　all　about　you；　Boss　Edgebe；　and　you　gonna　take　him　down　to　dat　place　in　Florida　where　the　mousies　do　their　tricks。　He　say　he　trust　you。〃　He　held　his　hand　out　farther；　and　I'll　be　damned　if　the　mouse　didn't　step　off　his　palm　and　onto　my　shoulder。　It　was