第52部分(第2/8 页)

is　skin　was　so　gray　he　looked　as　if　he'd　been　rolled　in　flour。　I　thought　he'd　be　in　the　infirmary　by　noon　。。。　if　he　wasn't　dead　by　noon；　that　was。

Brutal　gave　me　a　grim；　desperate　look。　I　gave　it　right　back。　〃We　can't　carry　him　up；　but　we　can　help　him；〃　I　said。　〃You　under　his　right　arm；　me　under　his　left。〃

〃What　about　me？〃　Harry　asked。

〃Walk　behind　us。　If　he　looks　like　going　over　backward；　shove　him　forward　again。〃

〃And　if　that　don't　work；　kinda　crouch　down　where　you　think　he's　gonna　land　and　soften　the　blow；〃　Brutal　said。

〃Gosh；〃　Harry　said　thinly；　〃you　oughta　go　on　the　Orpheum　Circuit；　Brute；　that's　how　funny　you　are。〃

〃I　got　a　sense　of　humor；　all　right；〃　Brutal　admitted。

In　the　end；　we　did　manage　to　get　John　up　the　stairs。　My　biggest　worry　was　that　he　might　faint；　but　he　didn't。　〃Go　around　me　and　check　to　make　sure　the　storage　room's　empty；〃　I　gasped　to　Harry。

〃What　should　I　say　if　it's　not？〃　Harry　asked；　squeezing　under　my　arm。　〃Avon　calling；；　and　then　pop　back　in　here？〃

〃Don't　be　a　Wisenheimer；〃　Brutal　said。

Harry　eased　the　door　open　a　little　way　and　poked　his　head　through。　It　seemed　to　me　that　he　stayed　that　way　for　a　very　long　time。　At　last　he　pulled　back；　looking　almost　cheerful。　〃Coast's　clear。　And　it's　quiet。〃

〃Let's　hope　it　stays　that　way；〃　Brutal　said。　〃e　on；　John　Coffey；　almost　home。〃

He　was　able　to　cross　the　storage　room　under　his　own　power；　but　we　had　to　help　him　up　the　three　st