Chapter 8

           Afterthat,thingswentbacktonormalagain...forawhile,atleast.Downinthecountyseat,thestatewaspreparingtobringJohnCoffeytotrial,andTrapingusCountySheriffHomerCribuswaspooh-poohingtheideathatalynch-mobmighthurryjusticealongalittlebit.Noneofthatmatteredtous;onEBlock,noonepaidmuchattentiontothenews.LifeontheGreenMilewas,inaway,likelifeinasoundproofroom.Fromtimetotimeyouheardmutteringsthatwereprobablyexplosionsintheoutsideworld,butthatwasaboutall.Theywouldn’thurrywithJohnCoffey;they’dwanttomakedamnedsureofhim.

           OnacoupleofoccasionsPercygottoraggingDelacroix,andthesecondtimeIpulledhimasideandtoldhimtocomeuptomyoffice.Itwasn’tmyfirstinterviewwithPercyonthesubjectofhisbehavior,anditwouldn’tbethelast,butitwaspromptedbywhat,wasprobablytheclearestunderstandingofwhathewas.Hehadtheheartofacruelboywhogoestothezoonotsohecanstudytheanimalsbutsohecanthrowstonesatthemintheircages.

           "Youstayawayfromhim,now,youhear?"Isaid."UnlessIgiveyouaspecificorder,juststaythehellawayfromhim."

           Percycombedhishairback,thenpattedatitwithhissweetlittlehands.Thatboyjustlovedtouchinghishair."Iwasn’tdoingnothingtohim,"hesaid."Onlyaskinghowitfelttoknowyouhadburnedupsomebabies,isall."Percygavemearound-eyed,innocentstare.