第49部分(第6/7 頁)

lear。〃

〃They　didn't　find　a　tumor？〃

〃No；〃　I　said。　〃They　say　the　headaches　will　likely　stop　now。〃

Beside　her；　Hal　burst　into　tears。

She　sat　forward　and　kissed　his　temple。　Then　her　eyes　moved　to　the　er。　〃Who　is　that　Negro　man？　Why　is　he　in　the　corner？〃

I　turned　and　saw　John　trying　to　get　up　on　his　feet。　Brutal　helped　him　and　John　made　it　with　a　final　lunge。　He　stood　facing　the　wall；　though；　like　a　child　who　has　been　bad。　He　was　still　coughing　in　spasms；　but　these　seemed　to　be　weakening　now。

〃John；〃　I　said。　〃Turn　around；　big　boy；　and　see　this　lady。〃

He　slowly　turned。　His　face　was　still　the　color　of　ashes；　and　he　looked　ten　years　older；　like　a　once　powerful　man　at　last　losing　a　long　battle　with　consumption。　His　eyes　were　cast　down　on　his　prison　slippers；　and　he　looked　as　if　he　wished　for　a　hat　to　wring。

〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked　again。　〃What's　your　name？〃

〃John　Coffey；　ma'am；〃　he　said；　to　which　she　immediately　replied；　〃But　not　spelled　like　the　drink。〃

Hal　started　beside　her。　She　felt　it；　and　patted　his　hand　reassuringly　without　taking　her　eyes　from　the　black　man。

〃I　dreamed　of　you；〃　she　said　in　a　soft；　wondering　voice。　〃I　dreamed　you　were　wandering　in　the　dark；　and　so　was　I。　We　found　each　other。〃

John　Coffey　said　nothing。

〃We　found　each　other　in　the　dark；〃　she　said。　〃Stand　up；　Hal；　you're　pinning　me　in　here。〃

He　got　up　and　watched　with　disbelief　as　she　turned　back　the　counterpane。　〃Melly；　you　can't…〃

〃Don't　be　silly；〃　she　said；　and　swung　her　legs　out。　〃Of　course　I　can。〃　She　smoothed　her　nightgown；　stretched；　then　got　to　her　feet。

〃My　God；〃　Hal　whispered。　〃My　dear　God　in　heaven；　look　at　her。〃

She　went　to　John　Coffey。　Brutal　stood　away　from　her；　an　awed　expres