der his left。〃
〃What about me？〃 Harry asked。
〃Walk behind us。 If he looks like going over backward； shove him forward again。〃
〃And if that don't work； kinda crouch down where you think he's gonna land and soften the blow；〃 Brutal said。
〃Gosh；〃 Harry said thinly； 〃you oughta go on the Orpheum Circuit； Brute； that's how funny you are。〃
〃I got a sense of humor； all right；〃 Brutal admitted。
In the end； we did manage to get John up the stairs。 My biggest worry was that he might faint； but he didn't。 〃Go around me and check to make sure the storage room's empty；〃 I gasped to Harry。
〃What should I say if it's not？〃 Harry asked； squeezing under my arm。 〃Avon calling；； and then pop back in here？〃
〃Don't be a Wisenheimer；〃 Brutal said。
Harry eased the door open a little way and poked his head through。 It seemed to me that he stayed that way for a very long time。 At last he pulled back； looking almost cheerful。 〃Coast's clear。 And it's quiet。〃
〃Let's hope it stays that way；〃 Brutal said。 〃e on； John Coffey； almost home。〃
He was able to cross the storage room under his own power； but we had to help him up the three steps to my office and then almost push him through the little door。 When he got to his feet again； he was breathing stertorously； and his eyes had a glassy sheen。 Also … I noticed this with real horror … the right side of his mouth had pulled down； making it look like Melinda's had； when we walked into her room and saw her propped up on her pillows。
Dean heard us and came in from the desk at the head of the Green Mile。 〃Thank God！ I thought you were never ing back； I'd half made up my mind you were caught； or the Warden plugged you； or…〃 He broke off； really seeing John for the first tim