e　back　and　gave　me　a　little　nod。

〃Percy；〃　I　said；　〃I　want　you　to　go　on　in　the　storeroom　and　mop　down　the　floor。　Stairs　to　the　tunnel；　too。　Then　you　can　write　your　report　on　last　night。〃

〃That　should　be　creative；〃　Brutal　remarked；　hooking　his　thumbs　into　his　belt　and　looking　up　at　the　ceiling。

〃You　guys　are　funnier'n　a　fuck　in　church；〃　Percy　said；　but　beyond　that　he　didn't　protest。　Didn't　even　point　out　the　obvious；　which　was　that　the　floor　in　there　had　already　been　washed　at　least　twice　that　day。　My　guess　is　that　he　was　glad　for　the　chance　to　be　away　from　us。

I　went　over　the　previous　shift　report；　saw　nothing　that　concerned　me；　and　then　took　a　walk　down　to　Wharton's　cell。　He　was　sitting　there　on　his　bunk　with　his　knees　drawn　up　and　his　arms　clasped　around　his　shins；　looking　at　me　with　a　bright；　hostile　smile。

〃Well；　if　it　ain't　the　big　boss；〃　he　said。　〃Big　as　life　and　twice　as　ugly。　You　look　happier'n　a　pig　kneedeep　in　shit；　Boss　Edgebe。　Wife　give　your　pecker　a　pull　before　you　left　home；　did　she？〃

〃How　you　doing；　Kid？〃　I　asked　evenly；　and　at　that　he　brightened　for　real。　He　let　go　of　his　legs；　stood　up；　and　stretched。　His　smile　broadened；　and　some　of　the　hostility　went　out　of　it。

〃Well；　damn！〃　he　said。　〃You　got　my　name　right　for　once！　What's　the　matter　with　you；　Boss　Edgebe？　You　sick　or　sumpin？〃

No；　not　sick。　I'd　been　sick；　but　John　Coffey　had　taken　care　of　that。　His　hands　no　longer　knew　the　trick　of　tying　a　shoe；　if　they