第52部分(第3/7 頁)

e。　〃Holy　cats；　what's　wrong　with　him？　He　looks　like　he's　dying！〃

〃He's　not　dying　。。。　are　you；　John　？〃　Brutal　said。　His　eyes　flashed　Dean　a　warning。

〃Course　not；　I　didn't　mean　actually　dyin〃　…　Dean　gave　a　nervous　little　laugh　…　〃but；　jeepers　。　。〃

〃Never　mind；〃　I　said。　〃Help　us　get　him　back　to　his　cell。〃

Once　again　we　were　foothills　surrounding　a　mountain；　but　now　it　was　a　mountain　that　had　suffered　a　few　million　years；　worth　of　erosion；　one　that　was　blunted　and　sad。　John　Coffey　moved　slowly；　breathing　through　his　mouth　like　an　old　man　who　smoked　too　much；　but　at　least　he　moved。

〃What　about　Percy？〃　I　asked。　〃Has　he　been　kicking　up　a　ruckus？〃

〃Some　at　the　start；〃　Dean　said。　〃Trying　to　yell　through　the　tape　you　put　over　his　mouth。　Cursing；　I　believe。〃

〃Mercy　me；〃　Brutal　said。　〃A　good　thing　our　tender　ears　were　elsewhere。〃

〃Since　then；　just　a　mulekick　at　the　door　every　once　in　awhile；　you　know。〃　Dean　was　so　relieved　to　see　us　that　he　was　babbling。　His　glasses　slipped　down　to　the　end　of　his　nose；　which　was　shiny　with　sweat；　and　he　pushed　them　back　up。　We　passed　Wharton's　cell。　That　worthless　young　man　was　flat　on　his　back；　snoring　like　a　sousaphone。　His　eyes　were　shut　this　time；　all　right。

Dean　saw　me　looking　and　laughed。

〃No　trouble　from　that　guy！　Hasn't　moved　since　he　laid　back　down　on　his　bunk。　Dead　to　the　world。　As　for　Percy　kicking　the　door　every　now　and　then；　I　never　minded　that　a　bit。　Was　glad　of　it；　tell　you　the　truth。　If　he　didn't　make　any　noise　at　all；　I'd　start　wonderin　if　he　hadn't　choked　to　death　on　that　gag　you　slapped　over　his　cakehole。　But　that's　not　the　best。　You　know　the　best？　It's　been　as　quiet　as　Ash　Wednesday　morning　in　New　Orleans！　Nobody's　been　down　all　night！〃　He　said　this　last　in　a