第54部分(第3/8 頁)

　the　line；〃　Brutal　said。　His　voice　was　calm；　but　there　was　no　mistaking　the　glaze　of　panic　in　his　eyes。

I　looked　down　the　hallway　and　saw　John　Coffey　sitting　on　the　end　of　his　bunk。　His　hands　were　clasped　between　his　knees　again；　but　his　head　was　up　and　he　no　longer　looked　a　bit　sick。　He　nodded　at　me　slightly；　and　I　surprised　myself　…　as　I　had　on　the　day　I　offered　him　my　hand　…　by　returning　the　nod。

〃What　are　we　going　to　do？〃　Harry　gibbered。　〃Oh　Christ；　what　are　we　going　to　do？〃

〃Nothing　we　can　do；〃　Brutal　said　in　that　same　calm　voice。　〃We're　hung。　Aren't　we；　Paul？〃

My　mind　had　begun　to　move　very　fast。　I　looked　at　Harry　and　Dean；　who　were　staring　at　me　like　scared　kids。　I　looked　at　Percy；　who　was　standing　there　with　his　hands　and　jaw　dangling。　Then　I　looked　at　my　old　friend；　Brutus　Howell。

〃We're　going　to　be　okay；〃　I　said。

Percy　at　last　menced　coughing。　He　doubled　over；　hands　on　his　knees；　almost　retching。　His　face　began　to　turn　red。　I　opened　my　mouth；　meaning　to　tell　the　others　to　stand　back；　but　I　never　got　a　chance。　He　made　a　sound　that　was　a　cross　between　a　dry　heave　and　a　bullfrog's　croak；　opened　his　mouth；　and　spewed　out　a　cloud　of　black；　swirling　stuff。　It　was　so　thick　that　for　a　moment　we　couldn't　see　his　head。　Harry　said　〃Oh　God　save　us〃　in　a　weak　and　watery　voice。　Then　the　stuff　turned　a　white　so　dazzling　it　was　like　January　sun　on　fresh　snow。　A　moment　later　the　cloud　was　gone。　Percy　straightened　slowly　up　and　resumed　his　va