第62部分(第4/8 頁)

　it。　I　kind　of　had　the　idea　that's　why　he　came　back。　To　let　me　know　I　should　hurry　up　and　do　it　while　there　was　still　time。　Because　I'm　like　him　…　getting　there。〃

〃Getting　where？〃

〃Oh；　you　know〃；　I　said；　and　we　watched　Mr。　Jingles　for　awhile　in　silence。　Then；　for　no　reason　I　could　tell　you；　I　tossed　the　spool　again；　even　though　Elaine　had　asked　me　not　to。　Maybe　only　because；　in　a　way；

him　chasing　a　spool　was　like　old　people　having　their　slow　and　careful　version　of　sex　…　you　might　not　want　to　watch　it；　you　who　are　young　and　convinced　that；　when　it　es　to　old　age；　an　exception　will　be　made　in　your　case；　but　they　still　want　to　do　it。

Mr。　Jingles　set　off　after　the　rolling　spool　again；　clearly　with　pain；　and　just　as　clearly　（to　me；　at　least）　with　all　his　old；　obsessive　enjoyment。

〃Ivy…glass　windows；〃　she　whispered；　watching　him　go。

〃Ivy…glass　windows；〃　I　agreed；　smiling。

〃John　Coffey　touched　the　mouse　the　way　he　touched　you。　He　didn't　just　make　you　better　of　what　was　wrong　with　you　then；　he　made　you　。。。　what；　resistant？〃

〃That's　as　good　a　word　as　any；　I　think。〃

〃Resistant　to　the　things　that　eventually　bring　the　rest　of　us　down　like　trees　with　termites　in　them。　You　。。。　and　him。　Mr。　Jingles。　When　he　cupped　Mr。　Jingles　in　his　hands。〃

〃That's　right。　Whatever　power　worked　through　John　did　that　…　that's　what　I　think；　anyway　…　and　now　it's　finally　wearing　off。　The　termites　have　chewed　their　way　through　our　bark。　It　took