第45部分(第4/7 頁)

we　need　to　chain　you　up；　John？〃　I　asked。

Coffey　appeared　to　think　about　this。　〃Can　if　you　want　to；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃Don't　need　to。〃

I　nodded　at　Brutal；　who　opened　the　cell　door；　then　turned　to　Harry；　who　was　more　or　less　pointing　Percy's　。45　at　Coffey　as　Coffey　emerged　from　his　cell。

〃Give　those　to　Dean；〃　I　said。

Harry　blinked　like　someone　awakening　from　a　momentary　doze；　saw　Percy's　gun　and　stick　still　in　his　hands；　and　passed　them　over　to　Dean。　Coffey；　meanle；　hulked　in　the　corridor　with　his　bald　skull　almost　brushing　one　of　the　caged　overhead　lights。

Standing　there　with　his　hands　in　front　of　him　and　his　shoulders　sloped　forward　to　either　side　of　his　barrel　chest；　he　made　me　think　again；　as　I　had　the　first　time　I　saw　him；　of　a　huge　captured　bear。

〃Lock　Percy's　toys　in　the　duty　desk　until　we　get　back；〃　I　said。

〃If　we　get　back；〃　Harry　added。

〃I　will；〃　Dean　said　to　me；　taking　no　notice　of　Harry。

〃And　if　someone　shows　up　…　probably　no　one　will；　but　if　someone　does　…　what　do　you　say？〃

〃That　Coffey　got　upset　around　midnight；〃　Dean　said。　He　looked　as　studious　as　a　college　student　taking　a　big　exam。　〃We　had　to　give　him　the　jacket　and　but　him　in　the　restraint　room。　If　there's　noise；　who　ever　hears　it'll　just　think　it's　him。〃　He　raised　his　chin　to　John　Coffey。　〃And　what　about　us？〃　Brutal　asked。　〃Paul's　over　in　Admin；　pulling　Del's　file　and　going　over　the　witnesses；〃　Dean　said。　〃It's　especially　important　this　time；　because　the　execution　was　such　a　balls…up。　He　said　he'd　probably　be　there　the　rest　of　the　shift。　You　and　Harry　and　Percy　are　over　in　the　laundry；　washing　your　clothes。〃

Well；　that　was　what　folks　said；　anyway。　There　was　a　crap…game　in　the　laundry　supply　room　some　nights；　on　others　it　was　bla