e。 〃Holy cats； what's wrong with him？ He looks like he's dying！〃
〃He's not dying 。。。 are you； John ？〃 Brutal said。 His eyes flashed Dean a warning。
〃Course not； I didn't mean actually dyin〃 … Dean gave a nervous little laugh … 〃but； jeepers 。 。〃
〃Never mind；〃 I said。 〃Help us get him back to his cell。〃
Once again we were foothills surrounding a mountain； but now it was a mountain that had suffered a few million years； worth of erosion； one that was blunted and sad。 John Coffey moved slowly； breathing through his mouth like an old man who smoked too much； but at least he moved。
〃What about Percy？〃 I asked。 〃Has he been kicking up a ruckus？〃
〃Some at the start；〃 Dean said。 〃Trying to yell through the tape you put over his mouth。 Cursing； I believe。〃
〃Mercy me；〃 Brutal said。 〃A good thing our tender ears were elsewhere。〃
〃Since then； just a mulekick at the door every once in awhile； you know。〃 Dean was so relieved to see us that he was babbling。 His glasses slipped down to the end of his nose； which was shiny with sweat； and he pushed them back up。 We passed Wharton's cell。 That worthless young man was flat on his back； snoring like a sousaphone。 His eyes were shut this time； all right。
Dean saw me looking and laughed。
〃No trouble from that guy！ Hasn't moved since he laid back down on his bunk。 Dead to the world。 As for Percy kicking the door every now and then； I never minded that a bit。 Was glad of it； tell you the truth。 If he didn't make any noise at all； I'd start wonderin if he hadn't choked to death on that gag you slapped over his cakehole。 But that's not the best。 You know the best？ It's been as quiet as Ash Wednesday morning in New Orleans！ Nobody's been down all night！〃 He said this last in a