nprehendingly。
〃It's St。 Christopher；〃 she said。 〃I want you to have it； Mr。 Coffey； and wear it。 He'll keep you safe。 Please wear it。 For me。〃
John looked at me； troubled； and I looked at Hal； who first spread his hands and then nodded。
〃Take it； John；〃 I said。 〃It's a present。〃
John took it； slipped the chain around his bullneck； and dropped the St。 Christopher medallion into the front of his shirt。 He had pletely stopped coughing now； but I thought he looked grayer and sicker than ever。
〃Thank you； ma'am；〃 he said。
〃No；〃 she replied。 〃Thank you。 Thank you； John Coffey。〃
9。
I rode up in the cab with Harry going back； and was damned glad to be there。 The heater was broken； but we were out of the open air； at least。 We had gone about ten miles when Harry spotted a little turnout and veered the truck into it。
〃What is it？〃 I asked。 〃Is it a bearing？〃 To my mind； the problem could have been that or anything； every ponent of the Farmall's engine and transmission sounded on the verge of going cataclysmically wrong or giving up the ghost entirely。
〃Nope；〃 Harry said； sounding apologetic。 〃I got to take a leak； is all。 My back teeth are floatin。〃
It turned out that we all did； except for John。 When Brutal asked if he wouldn't like to step down and help us water the bushes； he just shook his head without looking up。 He was leaning against the back of the cab and wearing one of the Army blankets over his shoulders like a serape。 I couldn't get any kind of read on his plexion； but I could hear his breathing … dry and raspy； like wind blowing through straw。 I didn't like it。
I walked into a clump of willows； unbuttoned； and let go。 I was still dose enough to my urinary infection so that the body's