第51部分(第3/8 頁)

　All　at　once　I　decided　to　put　off　the　walk　for　awhile。　I　had　a　chore；　yes；　but　it　could　keep；　and　I　didn't　feel　like　playing　hide…and…seek　with　Brad　Dolan　that　morning。

Instead　of　walking；　I'd　finish　my　story。　Sometimes　it's　better　to　push　on　through；　no　matter　how　much　your　mind　and　body　may　protest。　Sometimes　it's　the　only　way　to　get　through。　And　what　I　remember　most　about　that　morning　is　how　desperately　I　wanted　to　get　free　of　John　Coffey's　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　I'd　e　and　see　what　you　were　up　to。　Make　sure　you　w