d　my　urinary　infection　for　me；　the　〃bugs〃　turned　white　and　then　disappeared。

〃Holy　shit；〃　Harry　whispered。

〃Paul？〃　Brutal　asked　in　an　unsteady　voice。　〃Paul？〃

Coffey　looked　okay　again　…　like　a　fellow　who　has　successfully　coughed　up　a　wad　of　meat　that　has　been　choking　him。　He　bent　down；　put　his　cupped　hands　on　the　floor；　peeked　through　his　fingers；　then　opened　them。　Mr。　Jingles；　absolutely　all　right…not　a　single　twist　to　his　backbone；　not　a　single　lump　poking　at　his　hide　…　ran　out。　He　paused　for　a　moment　at　the　door　of　Coffey's　cell；　then　ran　across　the　Green　Mile　to　Delacroix's　cell。　As　he　went；　I　noticed　there　were　still　beads　of　blood　in　his　whiskers。

Delacroix　gathered　him　up；　laughing　and　crying　at　the　same　time；　covering　the　mouse　with　shameless；　smacking　kisses。　Dean　and　Harry　and　Brutal　watched　with　silent　wonder。　Then　Brutal　stepped　forward　and　handed　the　colored　spool　through　the　bars。　Delacroix　didn't　see　it　at　first；　he　was　too　taken　up　with　Mr。　Jingles。　He　was　like　a　father　whose　son　has　been　saved　from　drowning。　Brutal　tapped　him　on　the　shoulder　with　the　spool。　Delacroix　looked；　saw　it；　took　it；　and　went　back　to　Mr。　Jingles　again；　stroking　his　fur　and　devouring　him　with　his　eyes；　needing　to　constantly　refresh　his　perception　that　yes；　the　mouse　was　all　right；　the　mouse　was　whole　and　fine　and　all　right。

〃Toss　it；〃　Brutal　said。　〃I　want　to　see　how　he　runs。〃

〃He　all　right；　Boss　Howell；　he　all　right；　praise　God……！〃

〃Toss