第23部分(第5/7 页)

s　unlocked　and　I　dropped　onto　the　blue　cushion　Harry　had　brought　from　home　the　year　before　and　plopped　onto　the　seat　of　the　chair。　If　the　chair　hadn't　been　there；　I　reckon　I　would　have　plopped　straight　to　the　floor　without　passing　Go　or　collecting　two　hundred　dollars。

I　sat　there；　feeling　the　nothing　in　my　groin　where　a　forest　fire　had　been　blazing　not　ten　minutes　before。　I　helped　it；　didn't　I？　John　Coffey　had　said；　and　that　was　true；　as　far　as　my　body　went。　My　peace　of　mind　was　a　different　story；　though。　That　he　hadn't　helped　at　all。

My　eyes　fell　on　the　stack　of　forms　under　the　tin　ashtray　we　kept　on　the　corner　of　the　desk。　BLOCK　REPORT　was　printed　at　the　top；　and　about　halfway　down　was　a　blank　space　headed　Report　All　Unusual　Occurrences。　I　would　use　that　space　in　tonight's　report；　telling　the　story　of　William　Wharton's　colorful　and　action…packed　arrival。　But　suppose　I　also　told　what　had　happened　to　me　in　John　Coffey's　cell？　I　saw　myself　picking　up　the　pencil　…　the　one　whose　tip　Brutal　was　always　licking　…　and　writing　a　single　word　in　big　capital　letters：　MIRACLE。

That　should　have　been　funny；　but　instead　of　smiling；　all　at　once　I　felt　sure　that　I　was　going　to　cry　I　put　my　hands　to　my　face；　palms　against　my　mouth　to　stifle　the　sobs　…　I　didn't　want　to　scare　Del　again　just　when　he　was　starting　to　get　settled　down　…　but　no　sobs　came。　No　tears；　either。　After　a　few　moments　I　lowered　my　hands　back　to　the　desk　and　folded　them。　I　didn't　know　what　I　was　feeling；　and　the　only　clear　thought　in　my　head　was　a　wish　that　no　one　should　e　back　onto　the　block　until　I　was　a　little　more　in　control　of　myself。　I　was　afraid　of　what　they　might　see　in　my　face。

I　drew　a　Block　Report　form　toward　me。　I　would　wait　until　I　had　settled　down　a　bit　more　to　write　about　how　my