se。 The hurt。 The 。。。 you know。 The death。〃
〃No；〃 I said。 〃He just touched me。 And I felt it。 A kind of jolt； like electricity only not painful。 But I wasn't dying； only hurting。〃
Brutal nodded。 〃The touch and the breath。 Just like you hear those backwoods gospel…shouters going on about。〃
〃Praise Jesus； the Lord is mighty；〃 I said。
〃I dunno if Jesus es into it；〃 Brutal said； 〃but it seems to me like John Coffey is one mighty man。〃
〃All right；〃 Dean said。 〃If you say all this happened； I guess I believe it。 God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform。 But what's it got to do with us？〃
Well； that was the big question； wasn't it？ I took in a deep breath and told them what I wanted to do。 They listened； dumbfounded。 Even Brutal； who liked to read those magazines with the stories about little green men from space； looked dumbfounded。 There was a longer silence when I finished this time； and no one chewing any sandwiches。
At last； in a gentle and reasonable voice； Brutus Howell said： 〃We'd lose our jobs if we were caught； Paul； and we'd be very goddam lucky if that was all that happened。 We'd probably end up over in A Block as guests of the state； making wallets and showering in pairs。〃
〃Yes；〃 I said。 〃That could happen。〃
〃I can understand how you feel； a little；〃 he went on。 〃You know Moores better than us … he's your friend as well as the big boss … and I know you think a lot of his wife。。。〃
〃She's the sweetest woman you could ever hope to meet；〃 I said； 〃and she means the world to him。〃
〃But we don't know her the way you and Janice do；〃 Brutal said。 〃Do we； Paul？〃
〃You'd like her if you did；〃 I said。 〃At least； you'd like her if you'd met her before this thing got its claws into her