e back and gave me a little nod。
〃Percy；〃 I said； 〃I want you to go on in the storeroom and mop down the floor。 Stairs to the tunnel； too。 Then you can write your report on last night。〃
〃That should be creative；〃 Brutal remarked； hooking his thumbs into his belt and looking up at the ceiling。
〃You guys are funnier'n a fuck in church；〃 Percy said； but beyond that he didn't protest。 Didn't even point out the obvious； which was that the floor in there had already been washed at least twice that day。 My guess is that he was glad for the chance to be away from us。
I went over the previous shift report； saw nothing that concerned me； and then took a walk down to Wharton's cell。 He was sitting there on his bunk with his knees drawn up and his arms clasped around his shins； looking at me with a bright； hostile smile。
〃Well； if it ain't the big boss；〃 he said。 〃Big as life and twice as ugly。 You look happier'n a pig kneedeep in shit； Boss Edgebe。 Wife give your pecker a pull before you left home； did she？〃
〃How you doing； Kid？〃 I asked evenly； and at that he brightened for real。 He let go of his legs； stood up； and stretched。 His smile broadened； and some of the hostility went out of it。
〃Well； damn！〃 he said。 〃You got my name right for once！ What's the matter with you； Boss Edgebe？ You sick or sumpin？〃
No； not sick。 I'd been sick； but John Coffey had taken care of that。 His hands no longer knew the trick of tying a shoe； if they