第23部分(第2/8頁)

hn！〃　I　said。　I　clapped　him　on　the　back；　it　was　all　I　could　think　of　to　do。　〃John；　what's　wrong？〃

He　hitched　under　my　hand；　then　made　an　unpleasant　gagging；　retching　sound。　His　mouth　opened　the　way　horses　sometimes　open　their　mouths　to　allow　the　bit　…　reluctantly；　with　the　lips　peeling　back　from　the　teeth　in　a　kind　of　desperate　sneer。　Then　his　teeth　parted；　too；　and　he　exhaled　a　cloud　of　tiny　black　insects　that　looked　like　gnats　or　noseeums。　They　swirled　furiously　between　his　knees；　turned　white；　and　disappeared。

Suddenly　all　the　strength　went　out　of　my　middsection。　It　was　as　if　the　muscles　there　had　turned　to　water。　I　slumped　back　against　the　stone　side　of　Coffey's　cell。　I　remember　thinking　the　name　of　the　Savior　…　Christ；　Christ；　Christ；　over　and　over；　like　that　…　and　I　remember　thinking　that　the　fever　had　driven　me　delirious。　That　was　all。

Then　I　became　aware　that　Delacroix　was　bawling　for　help；　he　was　telling　the　world　that　John　Coffey　was　killing　me；　and　telling　it　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。　Coffey　was　bending　over　me；　all　right；　but　only　to　make　sure　I　was　okay。

〃Shut　up；　Del；〃　I　said；　and　got　on　my　feet。　I　waited　for　the　pain　to　rip　into　my　guts；　but　it　didn't　happen。　I　was　better。　Really。　There　was　a　moment　of　dizziness；　but　that　passed　even　before　I　was　able　to　reach　out　and　grab　the　bars　of　Coffey's　cell　door　for　balance。　〃I'm　totally　okey…doke。〃

〃You　get　on　outta　here；〃　Delacroix　said；　sounding　like　a　nervy　old　woman　telling　a　kid　to