第4部分(第1/7 页)

Coffey　was　smiling　a　trifle　uneasily；　as　if　he　knew　we　would　think　him　foolish　but　couldn't　help　himself。　〃Because　I　get　a　little　scared　in　the　dark　sometimes；〃　he　said。　〃If　it's　a　strange　place。〃

I　looked　at　him　…　the　pure　size　of　him　…　and　felt　strangely　touched。　They　did　touch　you；　you　know；　you　didn't　see　them　at　their　worst；　hammering　out　their　horrors　like　demons　at　a　forge。

〃Yes；　it's　pretty　bright　in　here　all　night　long；〃　I　said。　〃Half　the　lights　along　the　Mile　burn　from　nine　until　five　every　morning。〃　Then　I　realized　he　wouldn't　have　any　idea　of　what　I　was　talking　about　…　he　didn't　know　the　Green　Mile　from　Mississippi　mud　…　and　so　I　pointed。　〃In　the　corridor。〃

He　nodded；　relieved。　I'm　not　sure　he　knew　what　a　corridor　was；　either；　but　he　could　see　the　200…watt　bulbs　in　their　wire　cages。

I　did　something　I'd　never　done　to　a　prisoner　before；　then　…　I　offered　him　my　hand。　Even　now　I　don't　know　why。　Him　asking　about　the　lights；　maybe。　It　made　Harry　Terwilliger　blink；　I　can　tell　you　that。　Coffey　took　my　hand　with　surprising　gentleness；　my　hand　all　but　disappearing　into　his；　and　that　was　all　of　it。　I　had　another　moth　in　my　killing　bottle。　We　were　done。

I　stepped　out　of　the　cell。　Harry　pulled　the　door　shut　on　its　track　and　ran　both　locks。　Coffey　stood　where　he　was　a　moment　or　two　longer；　as　if　he　didn't　know　what　to　do　next；　and　then　he　sat　down　on　his　bunk；　clasped　his　giant's　hands　between　his　knees；　and　lowered　his　head　like　a　man　who　grieves　or　prays。　He　said　something　then　in　his　strange；　almost　Southern　voice。　I　heard　it　with　perfect　clarity；　and　although　I　didn't　know　much　about　what　he'd　done　then　…　you　don't　need　to　know　about　what　a　man's　done　in　order　to　feed　him　and　groom　him　until　it's　time　for　him　to　pay　off　what　he　o