第49部分(第1/7 页)

floor。　It　was　here　Hal　had　been　sleeping　…　dozing；　at　least　…　when　we　pulled　in。

As　John　approached；　her　expression　underwent　a　third　change。　Suddenly　I　saw　Melly；　whose　kindness　had　meant　so　much　to　me　over　the　years；　and　even　more　to　Janice　when　the　kids　had　flown　from　the　nest　and　she　had　been　left　feeling　so　alone　and　useless　and　blue。　Melly　was　still　interested；　but　now　her　interest　seemed　sane　and　aware。

〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked　in　a　clear；　reasonable　voice。　〃And　why　have　you　so　many　scars　on　your　hands　and　arms？　Who　hurt　you　so　badly？〃

〃I　don't　hardly　remember　where　they　all　e　from；　ma'am；〃　John　Coffey　said　in　a　humble　voice；　and　sat　down　beside　her　on　her　bed。

Melinda　smiled　as　well　as　she　could　…　the　sneering　right　side　of　her　mouth　trembled；　but　e　up。　She　touched　a　white　scar；　curved　like　a　scimitar；　on　the　back　of　his　left　hand。　〃What　a　blessing　that　is！　Do　you　understand　why？〃

〃Reckon　if　you　don't　know　who　hurt　you　or　dog　you　down；　it　don't　keep　you　up　nights；〃　John　Coffey　said　in　his　almost…Southern　voice。

She　laughed　at　that；　the　sound　as　pure　as　silver　in　the　bad…smelling　sickroom。　Hal　was　beside　me　now；　breathing　rapidly　but　not　trying　to　interfere。　When　Melly　laughed；　his　rapid　breathing　paused　for　a　moment；　indrawn；　and　one　of　his　big　hands　gripped　my　shoulder。　He　gripped　it　hard　enough　to　leave　a　bruise　…　I　saw　it　the　next　day　…　but　right　then　I　hardly　felt　it。

〃What's　your　name？〃　she　asked。

〃John　Coffey；　ma'am。〃

〃Coffey　like　the　drink。〃

〃Yes；　ma'am；　only　spelled　different。〃

She　lay　back　against　her　pillows；　propped　up　but　not　quite　sitting　up；　looking　at　him。　He　sat　beside　her；　looking　back；　and　the　light　from　the　lamp　circled　them　like　they　were　actors　on　a　stage　…　the