第34部分(第3/7 頁)

so　light　I　couldn't　even　feel　it　through　my　uniform　coat；　but　I　sensed　it；　like　a　small　heat。　〃And　boss？　Don't　let　that　bad　'un　near　him　again。　Don't　let　that　bad　'un　hurt　my　mouse。〃

〃No；　Del。　I　won't。〃　The　question　was；　what　was　I　supposed　to　do　with　him　right　then？　I　couldn't　very　well　march　Delacroix　past　the　witnesses　with　a　mouse　perched　on　my　shoulder。

〃I'll　take　him；　boss；〃　a　voice　rumbled　from　behind　me。　It　was　John　Coffey's　voice；　and　it　was　eerie　the　way　it　came　right　then；　as　though　he　had　read　my　mind。　〃Just　for　now。　If　Del　don't　mind。〃

Del　nodded；　relieved。　〃Yeah；　you　take　im；　John；　'til　dis　foolishment　done　…　bien！　And　den　after　。。。〃　His　gaze　shifted　back　to　Brutal　and　me。　〃You　gonna　take　him　down　to　Florida。　To　dat　Mouseville　Place。〃

〃Yeah；　most　likely　Paul　and　I　will　do　it　together；〃　Brutal　said；　watching　with　a　troubled　and　unquiet　eye　as　Mr。　Jingles　stepped　off　my　shoulder　and　into　Coffey's　huge　outstretched　palm。　Mr。　Jingles　did　this　with　no　protest　or　attempt　to　run；　indeed；　he　scampered　as　readily　up　John　Coffey's　arm　as　he　had　stepped　onto　my　shoulder。　〃We'll　take　some　of　our　vacation　time。　Won't　we；　Paul？〃

I　nodded。　Del　nodded；　too；　eyes　bright；　just　a　trace　of　a　smile　on　his　lips。　〃People　pay　a　dime　apiece　to　see　him。　Two　cents　for　the　kiddies。　Ain't　dat　right；　Boss；Howell？〃

〃That's　right；　Del。〃

〃You　a　good　man；　Boss　Howell；〃　Del　said。　〃You；　too；　Boss　Edgebe。　You　yell　at　me　sometimes；　oui；　but　not　'less　you　have　to。　You　all　good　men　except　for　dat　Percy。　I　wish　I　coulda　met　you　someplace　else。　Mauvais　temps；　mauvaise　chance。〃

〃I　got　something　to　say　to　you；　Del；…　I　told　him。　〃They're　just　the　words　I　have　to　say　to　everyone　before　we　walk。　No　big　deal；　but　it's　part　of　my　job。　Okay？〃