of helping him through the rest of it。 When you know what a man needs； you know the man； more often than not。 〃Please； Boss Edgebe！ You have to e in！〃
That's the nuttiest thing I ever heard； I thought； and then realized something even nuttier： I was going to do it。 I had my keys off my belt and I was hunting through them for the ones that opened John Coffey's cell。 He could have picked me up and broken me over his knee like kindling on a day when I was well and feeling fine； and this wasn't that day。 All the same； I was going to do it。 On my own； and less than half an hour after a graphic demonstration of where stupidity and laxness could get you when you were dealing with condemned murderers； I was going to open this black giant's cell； go in； and sit with him。 If I was discovered； I might well lose my job even if he didn't do anything crazy； but I was going to do it； just the same。
Stop； I said to myself； you just stop now； Paul。 But I didn't。 I used one key on the top lock； another on the bottom lock； and then I slid the door back on its track。
〃You know； boss； that maybe not such a good idear；〃 Delacroix said in a voice so nervous and prissy it would probably have made me laugh under other circumstances。
〃You mind your business and I'll mind mine；〃 I said without looking around。 My eyes were fixed on John Coffey's； and fixed so hard they might have been nailed there。 It was like being hypnotized。 My voice sounded to my own ears like something which had e echoing down a long valley。 Hell； maybe I was hypnotized。 〃You just lie down and take you a rest。〃
〃Christ； this place is crazy；〃 Delacroix said in a trembling voice。 〃Mr。 Jingles； I just about wish they'd fry me and be done widdit！〃
I went into Coffey's cell。 He stepped awa