第51部分(第2/7 頁)

de　me　think　of　Melinda　again；　and　what　she　had　said　to　John　after　the　miracle　had　happened。　I　dreamed　of　you。　I　dreamed　you　were　wandering　in　the　dark；　and　so　was　I。　We　found　each　other。

Georgia　Pines　gree　and　passed；　and　still　I　wrote。　I　got　to　Harry　reminding　us　that；　even　though　we　had　gotten　John　back　to　the　prison　without　being　discovered；　we　still　had　Percy　waiting　for　us。　〃The　evening　ain't　over　as　long　as　we　got　him　to　contend　with〃　is　more　or　less　what　Harry　said。

That's　where　my　long　day　of　driving　my　father's　pen　at　last　caught　up　with　me。　I　put　it　down　…　just　for　a　few　seconds；　I　thought；　so　I　could　flex　some　life　back　into　the　fingers　…　and　then　I　put　my　forehead　down　on　my　arm　and　closed　my　eyes　to　rest　them。　When　I　opened　them　again　and　raised　my　head；　morning　sun　glared　in　at　me　through　the　windows。　I　looked　at　my　watch　and　saw　it　was　past　eight。　I　had　slept；　head　on　arms　like　an　old　drunk；　for　what　must　have　been　six　hours。　I　got　up；　wincing；　trying　to　stretch　some　life　into　my　back。　I　thought　about　going　down　to　the　kitchen；　getting　some　toast；　and　going　for　my　morning　walk；　then　looked　down　at　the　sheafs　of　scribbled　pages　scattered　across　the　desk。　All　at　once　I　decided　to　put　off　the　walk　for　awhile。　I　had　a　chore；　yes；　but　it　could　keep；　and　I　didn't　feel　like　playing　hide…and…seek　with　Brad　Dolan　that　morning。

Instead　of　walking；　I'd　finish　my　story。　Sometimes　it's　better　to　push　on　through；　no　matter　how　much　your　mind　and　body　may　protest。　Sometimes　it's　the　only　way　to　get　through。　And　what　I　remember　most　about　that　morning　is　how　desperately　I　wanted　to　get　free　of　John　Coffey's　persistent　ghost。

〃Okay；〃　I　said。　〃One　more　mile。　But　first。。。〃

I　walked　down　to　the　toilet　at　the　end　of　the　second　floor　hall。　As