第45部分(第2/7 頁)

out　how　people　are　supposed　to　behave　…　Brute　thinks　so；　anyway　…　but　I'm　an　optimist。　Now　move。〃

He　did；　muttering　under　his　breath　that　we'd　be　sorry　for　this；　plenty　sorry；　just　wait　and　see；　but　on　the　whole　he　seemed　relieved　and　reassured。

When　we　herded　him　out　into　the　hall；　Dean　gave　us　a　look　of　such　wide…eyed　surprise　and　dewy　innocence　that　I　could　have　laughed；　if　the　business　hadn't　been　so　serious。　I've　seen　better　acting　in　backwoods　Grange　revues。

〃Say；　don't　you　think　the　joke's　gone　far　enough？〃　Dean　asked。

〃You　just　shut　up；　if　you　know　what's　good　for　you；〃　Brutal　growled。　These　were　lines　we'd　scripted　at　lunch；　and　that　was　just　what　they　sounded　like　to　me；　scripted　lines；　but　if　Percy　was　scared　enough　and　confused　enough；　they　still　might　save　Dean　Stanton's　job　in　a　pinch。　I　myself　didn't　think　so；　but　anything　was　possible。　Any　time　I've　doubted　that；　then　or　since；　I　just　think　about　John　Coffey；　and　Delacroix's　mouse。

We　ran　Percy　down　the　Green　Mile；　him　stumbling　and　gasping　for　us　to　slow　down；　he　was　going　to　go　flat　on　his　face　if　we　didn't　slow　down。　Wharton　was　on　his　bunk；　but　we　went　by　too　fast　for　me　to　see　if　he　was　awake　or　asleep。　John　Coffey　was　standing　at　his　cell　door　and　watching。　〃You're　a　bad　man　and　you　deserve　to　go　in　that　dark　place；〃　he　said；　but　I　don't　think　Percy　heard　him。

Into　the　restraint　room　we　went；　Percy's　cheeks　red　and　wet　with　tears；　his　eyes　rolling　into　their　sockets；　his　pampered　locks　all　flopping　down　on　his　forehead。　Harry　pulled　Percy's　gun　with　one　hand　and　his　treasured　hickory；　head…knocker　with　the　other。　〃You'll　get　em　back；　don't　worry；〃　Harry　said。　He　sounded　a　trifle　embarrassed。

〃I　wish　I　could　say　the　same　about　your　job；〃

Percy