第52部分(第2/7 頁)

der　his　left。〃

〃What　about　me？〃　Harry　asked。

〃Walk　behind　us。　If　he　looks　like　going　over　backward；　shove　him　forward　again。〃

〃And　if　that　don't　work；　kinda　crouch　down　where　you　think　he's　gonna　land　and　soften　the　blow；〃　Brutal　said。

〃Gosh；〃　Harry　said　thinly；　〃you　oughta　go　on　the　Orpheum　Circuit；　Brute；　that's　how　funny　you　are。〃

〃I　got　a　sense　of　humor；　all　right；〃　Brutal　admitted。

In　the　end；　we　did　manage　to　get　John　up　the　stairs。　My　biggest　worry　was　that　he　might　faint；　but　he　didn't。　〃Go　around　me　and　check　to　make　sure　the　storage　room's　empty；〃　I　gasped　to　Harry。

〃What　should　I　say　if　it's　not？〃　Harry　asked；　squeezing　under　my　arm。　〃Avon　calling；；　and　then　pop　back　in　here？〃

〃Don't　be　a　Wisenheimer；〃　Brutal　said。

Harry　eased　the　door　open　a　little　way　and　poked　his　head　through。　It　seemed　to　me　that　he　stayed　that　way　for　a　very　long　time。　At　last　he　pulled　back；　looking　almost　cheerful。　〃Coast's　clear。　And　it's　quiet。〃

〃Let's　hope　it　stays　that　way；〃　Brutal　said。　〃e　on；　John　Coffey；　almost　home。〃

He　was　able　to　cross　the　storage　room　under　his　own　power；　but　we　had　to　help　him　up　the　three　steps　to　my　office　and　then　almost　push　him　through　the　little　door。　When　he　got　to　his　feet　again；　he　was　breathing　stertorously；　and　his　eyes　had　a　glassy　sheen。　Also　…　I　noticed　this　with　real　horror　…　the　right　side　of　his　mouth　had　pulled　down；　making　it　look　like　Melinda's　had；　when　we　walked　into　her　room　and　saw　her　propped　up　on　her　pillows。

Dean　heard　us　and　came　in　from　the　desk　at　the　head　of　the　Green　Mile。　〃Thank　God！　I　thought　you　were　never　ing　back；　I'd　half　made　up　my　mind　you　were　caught；　or　the　Warden　plugged　you；　or…〃　He　broke　off；　really　seeing　John　for　the　first　tim