第59部分(第6/7 頁)

。　I　had　seen　it　before。　I'd　seen　most　everything　during　my　years　on　the　Mile。　More　than　was　good　for　me。　I　knew　that　now。

He　slipped　the　chain　over　his　head　and　put　it　in　my　hand。　I　put　the　medallion　in　my　pocket　and　told　him　to　step　on　out　of　the　cell。　There　was　no　need　to　check　his　head　and　make　sure　the　contact　would　be　firm　and　the　induction　good；　it　was　as　smooth　as　the　palm　of　my　hand。

〃You　know；　I　fell　asleep　this　afternoon　and　had　a　dream；　boss〃；　he　said。　〃I　dreamed　about　Del's　mouse。〃

〃Did　you；　John　？〃　I　flanked　him　on　the　left。　Harry　took　the　right。　Dean　fell　in　behind；　and　then　we　were　walking　the　Green　Mile。　For　me；　it　was　the　last　time　I　ever　walked　it　with　a　prisoner。

〃Yep〃；　he　said。　〃I　dreamed　he　got　down　to　that　place　Boss　Howell　talked　about；　that　Mouseville　place。　I　dreamed　there　was　kids；　and　how　they　laughed　at　his　tricks！　My！〃　He　laughed　himself　at　the　thought　of　it；　then　grew　serious　again。　〃I　dreamed　those　two　little　blond…headed　girls　were　there。　They　us　laughin；　too。　I　put　my　arms　around　em　and　there　us　no　blood　in　out　they　hair　and　they　'us　fine。　We　all　watch　Mr。　Jingles　roll　that　spool；　and　how　we　did　laugh。　Fit　to　bus'；　we　was。〃

〃Is　that　so？〃　I　was　thinking　I　couldn't　go　through　with　it；　just　could　not；　there　was　no　way。　I　was　going　to　cry　or　scream　or　maybe　my　heart　would　burst　with　sorrow　and　that　would　be　an　end　to　it。

We　went　into　my　office。　John　looked　around　for　a　moment　or　two；　then　dropped　to　his　knees　without　having　to　be　asked。　Behind　him；　Harry　was　looking　at　me　with　haunted　eyes。　Dean　was　as　white　as　paper。

I　got　down　on　my　knees　with　John　and　thought　there　was　a　funny　turnaround　brewing　here：　after　all　the　prisoners　I'd　had　to　help　up　so　they　could　finish　the　journey；　this　time　I　w