小说园

第34部分（第2页）

So　Eduard　Delacroix　took　his　last　walk　on　the　Green　Mile　with　little　streams　of　mingled　sweat　and　tears　running　down　his　cheeks　and　big　thunder　rolling　in　the　sky　overhead。　Brutal　walked　on　the　condemned　mans　left；　I　was　on　his　right；　Dean　was　to　the　rear。

Schuster　was　in　my　office；　with　guards　Ringgold　and　Battle　standing　in　the　corners　and　keeping　watch。　Schuster　looked　up　at　Del；　smiled；　and　then　addressed　him　in　French。　It　sounded　stilted　to　me；　but　it　worked　wonders。　Del　smiled　back；　then　went　to　Schuster；　put　his　arms　around　him；　hugged　him。　Ringgold　and　Battle　tensed；　but　I　raised　my　hands　to　them　and　shook　my　head。

Schuster　listened　to　Dels　flood　of　tear…choked　French；　nodded　as　if　he　understood　perfectly；　and　patted　him　on　the　back。　He　looked　at　me　over　the　little　mans　shoulder　and　said；　〃I　hardly　understand　a　quarter　of　what　hes　saying。〃

〃Dont　think　it　matters；〃　Brutal　rumbled。

〃Neither　do　I；　son；〃　Schuster　said　with　a　grin。　He　was　the　best　of　them；　and　now　I　realize　I　have　no　idea　what　became　of　him。　I　hope　he　kept　his　faith；　whatever　else　befell。

He　urged　Delacroix　onto　his　knees；　then　folded　his　hands。　Delacroix　did　the　same。

〃Not　Pere；　qui　etes　aux　cieux；〃　Schuster　began；　and　Delacroix　joined　him。　They　spoke　the　Lords　Prayer　together　in　that　liquid…sounding　Cajun　French；　all　the　way　to　〃mais　deliverez…nous　du　mal；　ainsi　soit…il。〃　By　then；　Dels　tears　had　mostly　stopped　and　he　looked　calm。　Some　Bible　verses　（in　English）　followed；　not　neglecting　the　old　standby　about　the　still　waters。　When　that　was　done；　Schuster　started　to　get　up；　but　Del　held　onto　the　sleeve　of　his　shirt　and　said　something　in　French。　Schuster　listened　carefully；　frowning。　He　responded。　Del　said　something　else；　then　just　looked　at　him　hopefully。

Schuster　turned　to　me　and　said：　〃Hes　got　something　else；　Mr。　Edgebe。　A　prayer　I　cant　help　him　with；　because　of　my　faith。　Is　it　all　right？〃

I　looked　at　the　clock　on　the　wall　and　saw　it　was　seventeen　minutes　to　midnight。　〃Yes；〃　I　said；　〃but　itll　have　to　be　quick。　Weve　got　a　schedule　to　keep　here；　you　know。〃

〃Yes。　I　do。〃　He　turned　to　Delacroix　and　gave　him　a　nod。

Del　closed　his　eyes　as　if　to　pray；　but　for　a　moment　said　nothing。　A　frown　creased　his　forehead　and　I　had　a　sense　of　him　reaching　far　back　in　his　mind；　as　a　man　may　search　a　small　attic　room　for　an　object　which　hasnt　been　used　（or　needed）　for　a　long；　long　time。　I　glanced　at　the　clock　again　and　almost　said　something　…　would　have；　if　Brutal　hadnt　twitched　my　sleeve　and　shaken　his　head。

Then　Del　began；　speaking　softly　but　quickly　in　that　Cajun　which　was　as　round　and　soft　and　sensual　as　a　young　womans　breast：　〃Marie！　le　vous　salue；　Marie；　oui；　pleine　de　grace；　le　Seigneur　est　avec　vous；　vous　etes　benie　entre　toutes　les　femmes；　et　mon　cher　Jesus；　le　fruit　de　vos　entrailles；　est　beni。〃　He　was　crying　again；　but　I　dont　think　he　knew　it。　〃Sainte　Marie；6　ma　mere；　Mere　de　Dieu；　priez　pour　moi；　priez　pour　nous；　pauv　pecheurs；　maintant　et　lheure　。。。　lheure　de　notre　mort。　Lheure　de　mon　mort。〃　He　took　a　deep；　shuddering　breath。　〃Ainsi　soit…il。〃

Lightning　spilled　through　the　rooms　one　window　in　a　brief　blue…white　glare　as　Delacroix　got　to　his　feet。　Everyone　jumped　and　cringed　except　for　Del　himself；　he　still　seemed　lost　in　the　old　prayer。　He　reached　out　with　one　hand；　not　looking　to　see　where　it　went。　Brutal　took　it　and　squeezed　it　briefly。　Delacroix　looked　at　him　and　smiled　a　little。　〃Nous　voyons　…　〃　he　began；　then　stopped。　With　a　conscious　effort；　he　switched　back　to　English。　〃We　can　go　now；　Boss　Howell；　Boss　Edgebe。　Im　right　wit　God；〃

〃Thats　good；〃　I　said；　wondering　how　right　with　God　Del　was　going　to　feel　twenty　minutes　from　now；　when　he　stood　on　the　other　side　of　the　electricity。　I　hoped　his　last　prayer　had　been　heard；　and　that　Mother　Mary　was　praying　for　him　with　all　her　heart　and　soul；　because　Eduard　Delacroix；　rapist　and　murderer；　right　then　needed　all　the　praying　he　could　get　his　hands　on。　Outside；　thunder　bashed　across　the　sky　again。　〃e　on；　Del。　Not　far　now。〃

〃Fine；　boss；　dat　fine。　Because　I　aint　ascairt　no　more。〃　So　he　said；　but　I　saw　in　his　eyes　that　…　Our　Father　or　no　Our　Father；　Hail　Mary　or　no　Hail　Mary　…　he　lied。　By　the　time　they　cross　the　rest　of　the　green　carpet　and　duck　through　the　little　door；　almost　all　of　them　are　scared。

〃Stop　at　the　bottom；　Del；〃　I　told　him　in　a　low　voice　as　he　went　through；　but　it　was　advice　I　neednt　have　given　him。　He　stopped　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs；　all　right；　stopped　cold；　and　what　did　it　was　the　sight　of　Percy　Wetmore　standing　there　on　the　platform；　with　the　sponge…bucket　by　one　foot　and　the　phone　that　went　to　the　governor　just　visible　beyond　his　right　hip。

〃Non；〃　Del　said　in　a　low；　horrified　voice。　〃Non；　non；　not　him！〃

〃Walk　on；〃　Brutal　said。　〃You　just　keep　your　eyes　on　me　and　Paul。　Forget　hes　there　at　all。〃

〃But…〃

People　had　turned　to　look　at　us；　but　by　moving　my　body　a　bit；　I　could　still　grip　Delacroixs　left　elbow　without　being　seen。　〃Steady；〃　I　said　in　a　voice　only　Del　…　and　perhaps　Brutal　…　could　hear。　〃The　only　thing　most　of　these　people　will　remember　about　you　is　how　you　go　out；　so　give　them　som