y　propelled　him　on　down　the　Green　Mile；　past　the　gleeful　Delacroix　and　the　impassive　Coffey。　Wharton　ran　to　keep　from　falling　on　his　face；　spitting　curses　the　whole　way。　Spitting　them　the　way　a　welder's　torch　spits　sparks。　We　banged　him　into　the　last　cell　on　the　right　while　Dean；　Harry；　and　Percy　（who　for　once　wasn't　plaining　about　being　unfairly　overworked）　yanked　all　of　the　crap　out　of　the　restraint　room。　While　they　did　that；　I　had　a　brief　conversation　with　Wharton。

〃You　think　you're　tough；〃　I　said；　〃and　maybe　you　are；　sonny；　but　in　here　tough　don't　matter。　Your　stampeding　days　are　over。　If　you　take　it　easy　on　us；　we'll　take　it　easy　on　you。　If　you　make　it　hard；　you'll　die　in　the　end　just　the　same；　only　we'll　sharpen　you　like　a　pencil　before　you　go。〃

〃You're　gonna　be　so　happy　to　see　the　end　of　me；〃　Wharton　said　in　a　hoarse　voice。　He　was　struggling　against　the　straitjacket　even　though　he　must　have　known　it　would　do　no　good；　and　his　face　was　as　red　as　a　tomato。　〃And　until　I'm　gone；　I'll　make　your　lives　miserable。〃　He　bared　his　teeth　at　me　like　an　angry　baboon。

〃If　that's　all　you　want；　to　make　our　lives　miserable；　you　can　quit　now；　because　you've　already　succeeded；〃　Brutal　said。　〃But　as　far　as　your　time　on　the　Mile　goes；　Wharton；　we　don't　care　if　you　spend　all　of　it　in　the　room　with　the　soft　walls。　And　you　can　wear　that　damned　nut…coat　until　your　arms　gangrene　from　lack　of　circulation　and　fall　right　off。〃　He　paused。　〃No　one　much　es　down　here；　you　know。　And