第44部分(第3/7 頁)

　and　sulked　off　into　my　office。　I　didn't　care　much　for　the　little　rat　parking　his　ass　behind　my　desk；　but　I　kept　my　mouth　shut。

The　clock　crawled。　Twelve…twenty；　twelve…thirty。　At　twelve…forty；　John　Coffey　got　up　off　his　bunk　and　stood　at　his　cell　door；　hands　grasping　the　bars　loosely。　Brutal　and　I　walked　down　to　Wharton's　cell　and　looked　in。　He　lay　there　on　his　bunk；　smiling　up　at　the　ceiling。　His　eyes　were　open；　but　they　looked　like　big　glass　balls。　One　hand　lay　on　his　chest；　the　other　dangled　limply　off　the　side　of　his　bunk；　knuckles　brushing　the　floor。

〃Gosh；〃　Brutal　said；　〃from　Billy　the　Kid　to　Willie　the　Weeper　in　less　than　an　hour。　I　wonder　how　many　of　those　morphine　pills　Dean　put　in　that　tonic。〃

〃Enough；〃　I　said。　There　was　a　little　tremble　in　my　voice。　I　don't　know　if　Brutal　heard　it；　but　I　sure　did。　〃e　on。　We're　going　to　do　it。〃

〃You　don't　want　to　wait　for　beautiful　there　to　pass　out？〃

〃He's　passed　out　now；　Brute。　He's　just　too　buzzed　to　close　his　eyes。〃

〃You're　the　boss。〃　He　looked　around　for　Harry；　but　Harry　was　already　there。　Dean　was　sitting　boltupright　at　the　duty　desk；　shuffling　the　cards　so　hard　and　fast　it　was　a　wonder　they　didn't　catch　fire；　throwing　a　little　glance　to　his　left；　at　my　office；　with　every　flutter…shuffle。　Keeping　an　eye　out　for　Percy。

〃Is　it　time？〃　Harry　asked。　His　long；　horsey　face　was　very　pale　above　his　blue　uniform　blouse；　but　he　looked　determined。

〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃If　we're　going　through　with　it；　it's　time。〃

Harry　crossed　himself　and　kissed　his　thumb。　Then　he　went　down　to　the　restraint　room；　unlocked　it；　and　came　back　with　the　straitjacket。　He　handed　it　to　Brutal。　The　three　of　us　walked　up　the　Green　Mile。　Coffey　stood　at　his　cell　door；　watching　us　go；　and　said　not　a　word。