第62部分(第3/8 頁)

ortunate　in　our　passions。

〃There　are　peppermint　candies　in　the　bag；　too；〃　I　said。　〃Canada　Mints。　I　think　he　still　likes　them　…　he　won't　stop　sniffing；　if　I　hold　one　out　to　him　…　but　his　digestion　has　gotten　too　bad　to　eat　them。　I　bring　him　toast；　instead。〃

I　squatted　again；　broke　a　small　fragment　off　the　piece　I'd　brought　with　me　from　the　sunroom；　and　put　it　on　the　floor。　Mr。　Jingles　sniffed　at　it；　then　picked　it　up　in　his　paws　and　began　to　eat。　His　tail　was　coiled　neatly　around　him。　He　finished；　then　looked　expectantly　up。

〃Sometimes　us　old　fellas　can　surprise　you　with　our　appetites〃；　I　said　to　Elaine；　and　handed　her　the　toast。　〃You　try。〃

She　broke　off　another　fragment　and　dropped　it　on　the　floor。　Mr。　Jingles　approached　it；　sniffed；　looked　at　Elaine　。。。　then　picked　it　up　and　began　to　eat。

〃You　see？〃　I　said。　〃He　knows　you're　not　a　floater。

〃Where　did　he　e　from；　Paul？〃

〃Haven't　a　clue。　One　day　when　I　went　out　for　my　early…morning　walk；　he　was　just　here；　lying　on　the　kitchen　steps。　I　knew　who　he　was　right　away；　but　I　got　a　spool　out　of　the　laundry　room　occasional　basket　just　to　be　sure。　And　I　got　him　a　cigar　box。　Lined　it　with　the　softest　stuff　I　could　find。　He's　like　us；　Ellie；　I　think…most　days　just　one　big　sore　place。　Still；　he　hasn't　lost　all　his　zest　for　living。　He　still　likes　his　spool；　and　he　still　likes　a　visit　from　his　old　blockmate。　Sixty　years　I　held　the　story　of　John　Coffey　inside　me；　sixty　and　more；　and　now　I've　told