'll talk； but for now that's all you need to know。 We were never here。…〃
〃Yes； all right He forced himself to focus on me for a moment； with what was clearly an effort。 〃You got him out。 Can you get him back in？〃
〃I think so。 Maybe。 But we need to go。〃
〃How did you know he could 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 t