rst he wouldn't go; and I might as well have been trying to pull a boulder out of the ground with my bare hands。

〃e on; John; we gotta go; 'less you want the coach…and…four to turn back into a pumpkin;〃 Harry said; giving his nervous laugh again。 He took John's other arm and tugged; but John still wouldn't e。 And then he said something in a low and dreaming voice。 It wasn't me he was speaking to; it wasn't any of us; but I have still never forgotten it。

〃They're still in there。 Pieces of them; still in there。 I hear them screaming。〃

Harry's nervous chuckles ceased; leaving him with a smile that hung on his mouth like a crooked shutter hangs on an empty house。 Brutal gave me a look that was almost terrified; and stepped away from John Coffey。 For the second time in less than five minutes; I sensed the whole enterprise on the verge of collapse。 This time I was the one who stepped in; when disaster threatened a third time; a little later on; it would be Harry。 We all got our chance that night; believe me。

I slid in between John and his view of the chair; standing on my tiptoes to make sure I was pletely blocking his sight…line。 Then I snapped my fingers in front of his eyes; twice; sharply。

〃e on!〃 I said。 〃Walk! You said you didn't need to be chained; now prove it! Walk; big boy! Walk; John Coffey! Over there! That door!〃

His eyes cleared。 〃Yes; boss。〃 And praise God; he began to walk。

〃Look at the door; John Coffey; just at the