Chapter 7

           Twodayslater,ontheeighteenth,BillDodge,HankBitterman,andsomeoneelse—Idon’trememberwho,somefloater—tookJohnCoffeyovertoDBlockforhisshower,andwerehearsedhisexecutionwhilehewasgone.Wedidn’tletToot-TootstandinforJohn;allofusknew,evenwithouttalkingaboutit,thatitwouldhavebeenanobscenity.

           Ididit.

           "JohnCoffey,"Brutalsaidinanot-quite-steadyvoiceasIsatclampedintoOldSparky,"youhavebeencondemnedtodieintheelectricchair,sentencepassedbyajuryofyourpeers..."

           JohnCoffey’speers?Whatajoke.SofarasIknew,therewasnoonelikehimontheplanet.ThenIthoughtofwhatJohnhadsaidwhilehestoodlookingatSparkyfromthefootofthestairsleadingdownfrommyoffice:They’restillinthere.Ihearthemscreaming.

           "Getmeoutofit,"Isaidhoarsely."Undotheseclampsandletmeup."

           Theydidit,butforamomentIfeltfrozenthere,asifOldSparkydidnotwanttoletmego.

           Aswewalkedbacktotheblock,Brutalspoketomeinalowvoice,sonotevenDeanandHarry,whoweresettingupthelastofthechairsbehindus,wouldoverhear."IdoneafewthingsinmylifethatI’mnotproudof,butthisisthefirsttimeIeverfeltreallyactuallyindangerofhell."

           Ilookedathimtomakesurehewasn’tjoking.Ididn’tthinkhewas."Whatdoyoumean?"

           "Imeanwe’refixingtokillagiftofGod,"hesaid