第51部分(第1/7 頁)

As　it　turned　out；　our　evening　was　far　from　over。

Part　Six：

Coffey　on　the　Mile

1。

I　sat　in　the　Georgia　Pines　sunroom；　my　father's　fountain　pen　in　my　hand；　and　time　was　lost　to　me　as　I　recalled　the　night　Harry　and　Brutal　and　I　took　John　Coffey　off　the　Mile　and　to　Melinda　Moores；　in　an　effort　to　save　her　life。　I　wrote　about　the　drugging　of　William　Wharton；　who　fancied　himself　the　second　ing　of　Billy　the　Kid；　I　wrote　of　how　we　stuck　Percy　in　the　straitjacket　and　jugged　him　in　the　restraint　room　at　the　end　of　the　Green　Mile；　I　wrote　about　our　strange　night　journey　…　both　terrifying　and　exhilarating　…　and　the　miracle　that　befell　at　the　end　of　it。　We　saw　John　Coffey　drag　a　woman　back；　not　just　from　the　edge　of　her　grave；　but　from　what　seemed　to　us　to　be　the　very　bottom　of　it。

I　wrote　and　was　very　faintly　aware　of　the　Georgia　Pines　version　of　life　going　on　around　me。　Old　folks　went　down　to　supper；　then　trooped　off　to　the　Resource　Center　（yes；　you　are　permitted　a　chuckle）　for　their　evening　dose　of　work　sits。　I　seem　to　remember　my　friend　Elaine　bringing　me　a　sandwich；　and　thanking　her；　and　eating　it；　but　I　couldn't　tell　you　what　time　of　the　evening　she　brought　it；　or　what　was　in　it。　Most　of　me　was　back　in　1932；　when　our　sandwiches　were　usually　bought　off　old　Toot…Toot's　rolling　gospel　snack…wagon；　cold　pork　a　nickel；　corned　beef　a　dime。

I　remember　the　place　quieting　down　as　the　relics　who　live　here　made　ready　for　another　night　of　thin　and　troubled　sleep；　I　heard　Mickey　…　maybe　not　the　best　orderly　in　the　place；　but　certainly　the　kindest　…　singing　〃Red　River　Valley〃　in　his　good　tenor　as　he　went　around　dispensing　the　evening　meds：　〃From　this　valley　they　say　you　are　going　。。。　We　will　miss　your　bright　eyes　and　sweet　smile　。。。〃　The　song　ma