Chapter 2

           WhenwebroughtJohnbacktoEBlockthatnight,thegurneywasanecessityinsteadofaluxury.Iverymuchdoubtifhecouldhavemadeitthelengthofthetunnelonhisown;ittakesmoreenergytowalkatacrouchthanitdoesupright,anditwasadamnedlowceilingforthelikesofJohnCoffey.Ididn’tliketothinkofhimcollapsingdownthere.Howwouldweexplainthat,ontopoftryingtoexplainwhywehaddressedPercyinthemadman’sdinner-jacketandtossedhimintherestraintroom?

           Butwehadthegurney—thankGod—andJohnCoffeylayonitlikeabeachedwhaleaswepushedhimbacktothestorage-roomstairs.Hegotdownoffit,staggered,thensimplystoodwithhisheadlowered,breathingharshly.Hisskinwassograyhelookedasifhe’dbeenrolledinflour.Ithoughthe’dbeintheinfirmarybynoon...ifhewasn’tdeadbynoon,thatwas.

           Brutalgavemeagrim,desperatelook.Igaveitrightback."Wecan’tcarryhimup,butwecanhelphim,"Isaid."Youunderhisrightarm,meunderhisleft."

           "Whataboutme?"Harryasked.

           "Walkbehindus.Ifhelookslikegoingoverbackward,shovehimforwardagain."

           "Andifthatdon’twork,kindacrouchdownwhereyouthinkhe’sgonnalandandsoftentheblow,"Brutalsaid.

           "Gosh,"Harrysaidthinly,"yououghtagoontheOrpheumCircuit,Brute,that’showfunnyyouare."

           "Igotasenseofhumor,allright,"Brutaladmitted.