do this？〃 Then he shook his head； as if realizing for himself that this wasn't the time。 〃Paul 。。。 thank you。〃
〃Don't thank me；〃 I said。 〃Thank John。〃
He looked at John Coffey； then put out one hand … just as I had done on the day Harry and Percy escorted John onto the block。 〃Thank you。 Thank you so much。〃
John looked at the hand。 Brutal threw a none…too…subtle elbow into his side。 John started； then took the hand and gave it a shake。 Up； down； back to center； release。 〃Wele；〃 he said in a hoarse voice。 It sounded to me like Melly's when she had clapped her hands and told John to pull down his pants。 〃Wele；〃 he said to the man who would； in the ordinary course of things； grasp a pen with that hand and then sign John Coffey's execution order with it。
Harry tapped the face of his watch； more urgently this time。
〃Brute？〃 I said。 〃Ready？〃
〃Hello； Brutus；〃 Melinda said in a cheerful voice； as if noticing him for the first time。 〃It's good to see you。 Would you gentlemen like tea？ Would you； Hal？ I could make it。〃 She got up again。 〃I've been ill； but I feel fine now。 Better than I have in years。〃
〃Thank you； Missus Moores； but we have to go；〃 Brutal said。 〃It's past John's bedtime。〃 He smiled to show it was a joke； but the look he gave John was as anxious as I felt。
〃Well 。。。 if you're sure
〃Yes； ma'am。 e on； John Coffey。〃 He tugged John's arm to get him going； and John went。
〃Just a minute！〃 Melinda shook free of Hal's hand and ran as lightly as a girl to where John stood。 She put her arms around him and gave him another hug。 Then she reached around to the nape of her neck and pulled a fine…link chain out of her bodice。 At the end of it was a silver medallion。 She held it out to John； who looked at it u