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第51部分（第1页）

As　it　turned　out；　our　evening　was　far　from　over。

Part　Six：

Coffey　on　the　Mile

1。

I　sat　in　the　Georgia　Pines　sunroom；　my　fathers　fountain　pen　in　my　hand；　and　time　was　lost　to　me　as　I　recalled　the　night　Harry　and　Brutal　and　I　took　John　Coffey　off　the　Mile　and　to　Melinda　Moores；　in　an　effort　to　save　her　life。　I　wrote　about　the　drugging　of　William　Wharton；　who　fancied　himself　the　second　ing　of　Billy　the　Kid；　I　wrote　of　how　we　stuck　Percy　in　the　straitjacket　and　jugged　him　in　the　restraint　room　at　the　end　of　the　Green　Mile；　I　wrote　about　our　strange　night　journey　…　both　terrifying　and　exhilarating　…　and　the　miracle　that　befell　at　the　end　of　it。　We　saw　John　Coffey　drag　a　woman　back；　not　just　from　the　edge　of　her　grave；　but　from　what　seemed　to　us　to　be　the　very　bottom　of　it。

I　wrote　and　was　very　faintly　aware　of　the　Georgia　Pines　version　of　life　going　on　around　me。　Old　folks　went　down　to　supper；　then　trooped　off　to　the　Resource　Center　（yes；　you　are　permitted　a　chuckle）　for　their　evening　dose　of　work　sits。　I　seem　to　remember　my　friend　Elaine　bringing　me　a　sandwich；　and　thanking　her；　and　eating　it；　but　I　couldnt　tell　you　what　time　of　the　evening　she　brought　it；　or　what　was　in　it。　Most　of　me　was　back　in　1932；　when　our　sandwiches　were　usually　bought　off　old　Toot…Toots　rolling　gospel　snack…wagon；　cold　pork　a　nickel；　corned　beef　a　dime。

I　remember　the　place　quieting　down　as　the　relics　who　live　here　made　ready　for　another　night　of　thin　and　troubled　sleep；　I　heard　Mickey　…　maybe　not　the　best　orderly　in　the　place；　but　certainly　the　kindest　…　singing　〃Red　River　Valley〃　in　his　good　tenor　as　he　went　around　dispensing　the　evening　meds：　〃From　this　valley　they　say　you　are　going　。。。　We　will　miss　your　bright　eyes　and　sweet　smile　。。。〃　The　song　made　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　aint　over　as　long　as　we　got　him　to　contend　with〃　is　more　or　less　what　Harry　said。

Thats　where　my　long　day　of　driving　my　fathers　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　didnt　feel　like　playing　hide…and…seek　with　Brad　Dolan　that　morning。

Instead　of　walking；　Id　finish　my　story。　Sometimes　its　better　to　push　on　through；　no　matter　how　much　your　mind　and　body　may　protest。　Sometimes　its　the　only　way　to　get　through。　And　what　I　remember　most　about　that　morning　is　how　desperately　I　wanted　to　get　free　of　John　Coffeys　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　I　stood　inside　there；　urinating；　I　happened　to　glance　up　at　the　smoke　detector　on　the　ceiling。　That　made　me　think　of　Elaine；　and　how　she　had　distracted　Dolan　so　I　could　go　for　my　walk　and　do　my　little　chore　the　day　before。　I　finished　peeing　with　a　grin　on　my　face。

I　walked　back　to　the　sunroom；　feeling　better　（and　a　lot　fier　in　my　her　regions）。　Someone　…　Elaine；　I　have　no　doubt　…　had　set　down　a　pot　of　tea　beside　my　pages。　I　drank　greedily；　first　one　cup；　then　another；　before　I　even　sat　down。　Then　I　resumed　my　place；　uncapped　the　fountain　pen；　and　once　more　began　to　write。

I　was　just　slipping　fully　into　my　story　when　a　shadow　fell　on　me。　I　looked　up　and　felt　a　sinking　in　MY　stomach。　It　was　Dolan　standing　between　me　and　the　windows。　He　was　grinning。

〃Missed　you　going　on　your　morning　walk；　Paulie；　he　said；　〃so　I　thought　Id　e　and　see　what　you　were　up　to。　Make　sure　you　werent；　you　know；　sick。〃

〃Youre　all　heart　and　a　mile　wide；〃　I　said。　My　voice　sounded　all　right　…　so　far；　anyway　…　but　my　heart　was　pounding　hard。　I　was　afraid　of　him；　and　I　dont　think　that　realization　was　entirely　new。　He　reminded　me　of　Percy　Wetmore；　and　Id　never　been　afraid　of　him　。。。　but　when　I　knew　Percy；　I　had　been　young。

Brads　smile　widened；　but　became　no　less　pleasant。

〃Folks　tellin　me　you　been　in　here　all　night；　Paulie；　just　writing　your　little　report。　Now；　thats　just　no　good。　Old　farts　like　you　need　their　beauty　rest。〃

〃Percy　…　〃　I　began；　then　saw　a　frown　crease　his　grin　and　realized　my　mistake。　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　began　again。　〃Brad；　what　have　you　got　against　me？〃

He　looked　puzzled　for　a　moment；　maybe　a　bit　unsettled。　Then　the　grin　returned。　〃Old…timer；〃　he　said；　〃could　be　I　just　dont　like　your　face。　What　you　writin；　anyway？　Last　will　n　testicles？〃

He　came　forward；　craning。　I　slapped　my　hand　over　the　page　Id　been　working　on。　The　rest　of　them　I　began　to　rake　together　with　my　free　hand；　crumpling　some　in　my　hurry　to　get　them　under　my　arm　and　under　cover。

〃Now；〃　he　said；　as　if　speaking　to　a　baby；　〃that　aint　going　to　work；　you　old　sweetheart。　If　Brad　wants　to　look；　Brad　is　going　to　look。　And　you　can　take　that　to　the　everfucking　bank。〃

His　hand；　young　and　hideously　strong；　closed　over　my　wrist；　and　squeezed。　Pain　sank　into　my　hand　like　teeth；　and　I　groaned。

〃Let　go；〃　I　managed。

〃When　you　let　me　see；〃　he　replied；　and　he　was　no　longer　smiling。　His　face　was　cheerful；　though；　the　kind　of　good　cheer　you　only　see　on　the　faces　of　folks　who　enjoy　being　mean。　〃Let　me　see；　Paulie。　I　want　to　know　what　youre　writing。〃　My　hand　began　to　move　away　from　the　top　page。　From　our　trip　with　John　back　through　the　tunnel　under　the　road。　〃I　want　to　see　if　it　has　anything　to　do　with　where　you…

〃Let　that　man　alone。〃

The　voice　was　like　a　harsh　whipcrack　on　a　dry；　hot　day　。。。　and　the　way　Brad　Dolan　jumped；　you　would　have　thought　his　ass　had　been　the　target。　He　let　go　of　my　hand；　which　thumped　back　down　on　my　paperwork；　and　we　both　looked　toward　the　door。

Elaine　Connelly　was　standing　there；　looking　fresh　and　stronger　than　she　had　in　days。　She　wore　jeans　that　showed　off　her　slim　hips　and　long　legs；　there　was　a　blue　ribbon　in　her　hair。　She　had　a　tray　in　her　arthritic　hands　…　juice；　a　scrambled　egg；　toast；　more　tea。　And　her　eyes　were　blazing。