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第27部分（第2页）

We　found　Melinda　in　the　sitting　room；　planted　in　a　bright　slant　of　unseasonably　warm　October　sun；　and　my　first　shocked　thought　was　that　she　had　lost　niy　pounds。　She　hadnt；　of　course　…　if　shed　lost　that　much　weight；　she　hardly　would　have　been　there　at　all　…　but　that　was　my　brains　initial　reaction　to　what　my　eyes　were　reporting。　Her　face　had　fallen　away　to　show　the　shape　of　the　underlying　skull；　and　her　skin　was　as　white　as　parchment。　There　were　dark　circles　under　her　eyes。　And　it　was　the　first　time　I　ever　saw　her　in　her　rocker　when　she　didnt　have　a　lapful　of　sewing　or　afghan　squares　or　rags　for　braiding　into　a　rug。　She　was　just　sitting　there。　Like　a　person　in　a　train…station。

〃Melinda；〃　my　wife　said　warmly。　I　think　she　was　as　shocked　as　I　was　…　more；　perhaps　…　but　she　hid　it　splendidly；　as　some　women　seem　able　to　do。　She　went　to　Melinda；　dropped　on　one　knee　beside　the　rocking　chair　in　which　the　wardens　wife　sat；　and　took　one　of　her　hands。　As　she　did；　my　eye　happened　on　the　blue　hearthrug　by　the　fireplace。　It　occurred　to　me　that　it　should　have　been　the　shade　of　tired　old　limes；　because　now　this　room　was　just　another　version　of　the　Green　Mile。

〃I　brought　you　some　tea；〃　Jan　said；　〃the　kind　I　put　up　myself。　Its　a　nice　sleepy　tea。　Ive　left　it　in　the　kitchen。〃

〃Thank　you　so　much；　darlin；〃　Melinda　said。　Her　voice　sounded　old　and　rusty

〃How　you　feeling；　dear？〃　my　wife　asked。

〃Better；〃　Melinda　said　in　her　rusty；　grating　voice。　〃Not　sos　I　want　to　go　out　to　a　barn　dance；　but　at　least　theres　no　pain　today。　They　give　me　some　pills　for　the　headaches。　Sometimes　they　even　work。〃

〃Thats　good；　isnt　it？〃

〃But　I　cant　grip　so　well。　Somethings　happened　。。。　to　my　hand。〃　She　raised　it；　looked　at　it　as　if　she　had　never　seen　it　before；　then　lowered　it　back　into　her　lap。　〃Somethings　happened　。。。　all　over　me。〃　She　began　to　cry　in　a　soundless　way　that　made　me　think　of　John　Coffey。　It　started　to　chime　in　my　head　again；　that　thing　hed　said：　I　helped　it；　didnt　I？　I　helped　it；　didnt　I？　Like　a　rhyme　you　cant　get　rid　of。

Hal　came　in　then。　He　collared　me；　and　you　can　believe　me　when　I　say　I　was　glad　to　be　collared。　We　went　into　the　kitchen；　and　he　poured　me　half　a　shot　of　white　whiskey；　hot　stuff　fresh　out　of　some　countrymans　still。　We　clinked　our　glasses　together　and　drank。　The　shine　went　down　like　coal…oil；　but　the　bloom　in　the　belly　was　heaven。　Still；　when　Moores　tipped　the　mason　jar　at　me；　wordlessly　asking　if　I　wanted　the　other　half；　I　shook　my　head　and　waved　it　off。　Wild　Bill　Wharton　was　out　of　restraints　…　for　the　time　being；　anyway　…　and　it　wouldnt　be　safe　to　go　near　where　he　was　with　a　booze…clouded　head。　Not　even　with　bars　between　us。

〃I　dont　know　how　long　I　can　take　this；　Paul；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃Theres　a　girl　who　es　in　mornings　to　help　me　with　her；　but　the　doctors　I　say　she　may　lose　control　of　her　bowels；　and　。。。　and　。。。〃

He　stopped；　his　throat　working；　trying　hard　not　to　cry　in　front　of　me　again。

〃Go　with　it　as　best　you　can；〃　I　said。　I　reached　out　across　the　table　and　briefly　squeezed　his　palsied；　liverspotted　hand。　〃Do　that　day　by　day　and　give　the　rest　over　to　God。　Theres　nothing　else　you　can　do；　is　there？〃

〃I　guess　not。　But　its　hard；　Paul。　I　pray　you　never　have　to　find　out　how　hard。〃

He　made　an　effort　to　collect　himself。

〃Now　tell　me　the　news。　How　are　you　doing　with　William　Wharton？　And　how　are　you　making　out　with　Percy　Wetmore？〃

We　talked　shop　for　a　while；　and　got　through　the　visit。　After；　all　the　way　home；　with　my　wife　sitting　silent；　for　the　most　part　…　wet…eyed　and　thoughtful　…　in　the　passenger　seat　beside　me；　Coffeys　words　ran　around　in　my　head　like　Mr。　Jingles　running　around　in　Delacroixs　cell：　I　helped　it；　didnt　I？

〃Its　terrible；〃　my　wife　said　dully　at　one　point。　〃And　theres　nothing　anyone　can　do　to　help　her。〃

I　nodded　agreement　and　thought；　I　helped　it；　didnt　I？　But　that　was　crazy；　and　I　tried　as　best　I　could　to　put　it　out　of　my　mind。

As　we　turned　into　our　dooryard；　she　finally　spoke　a　second　time　…　not　about　her　old　friend　Melinda；　but　about　my　urinary　infection。　She　wanted　to　know　if　it　was　really　gone。　Really　gone；　I　told　her。

〃Thats　fine；　then；〃　she　said；　and　kissed　me　over　the　eyebrow；　in　that　shivery　place　of　mine。　〃Maybe　we　ought　to；　you　know；　get　up　to　a　little　something。　If　you　have　the　time　and　the　inclination；　that　is。〃

Having　plenty　of　the　latter　and　just　enough　of　the　former；　I　took　her　by　the　hand　and　led　her　into　the　back　bedroom　and　took　her　clothes　off　as　she　stroked　the　part　of　me　that　swelled　and　throbbed　but　didnt　hurt　anymore。　And　as　I　moved　in　her　sweetness；　slipping　through　it　in　that　slow　way　she　liked　…　that　we　both　liked　…　I　thought　of　John　Coffey；　saying　hed　helped　it；　hed　helped　it；　hadnt　he？　Like　a　snatch　of　song　that　wont　leave　your　mind　until　its　damned　good　and　ready。

Later；　as　I　drove　to　the　prison；　I　got　to　thinking　that　very　soon　we　would　have　to　start　rehearsing　for　Delacroixs　execution。　That　thought　led　to　how　Percy　was　going　to　be　out　front　this　time；　and　I　felt　a　s