第34部分(第4/8頁)

Jingles　stepped　off　my　shoulder　and　into　Coffey's　huge　outstretched　palm。　Mr。　Jingles　did　this　with　no　protest　or　attempt　to　run；　indeed；　he　scampered　as　readily　up　John　Coffey's　arm　as　he　had　stepped　onto　my　shoulder。　〃We'll　take　some　of　our　vacation　time。　Won't　we；　Paul？〃

I　nodded。　Del　nodded；　too；　eyes　bright；　just　a　trace　of　a　smile　on　his　lips。　〃People　pay　a　dime　apiece　to　see　him。　Two　cents　for　the　kiddies。　Ain't　dat　right；　Boss；Howell？〃

〃That's　right；　Del。〃

〃You　a　good　man；　Boss　Howell；〃　Del　said。　〃You；　too；　Boss　Edgebe。　You　yell　at　me　sometimes；　oui；　but　not　'less　you　have　to。　You　all　good　men　except　for　dat　Percy。　I　wish　I　coulda　met　you　someplace　else。　Mauvais　temps；　mauvaise　chance。〃

〃I　got　something　to　say　to　you；　Del；…　I　told　him。　〃They're　just　the　words　I　have　to　say　to　everyone　before　we　walk。　No　big　deal；　but　it's　part　of　my　job。　Okay？〃

〃Oui；　monsieur；〃　he　said；　and　looked　at　Mr。　Jingles；　perched　on　John　Coffey's　broad　shoulder；　for　the　last　time。　〃Au　revoir；　mon　ami；〃　he　said；　beginning　to　cry　harder。　〃le　t'aime；　mon　petit。〃　He　blew　the　mouse　a　kiss。　It　should　have　been　funny；　that　blown　kiss；　or　maybe　just　grotesque；　but　it　wasn't。　I　met　Dean's　eye　for　a　moment；　then　had　to　look　away。　Dean　stared　down　the　corridor　toward　the　restraint　room　and　smiled　strangely　I　believe　he　was　on　the　verge　of　tears。　As　for　me；　I　said　what　I　had　to　say；　beginning　with　the　part　about　how　I　was　an　officer　of　the　court；　and　when　I　was　done；　Del