He　walked　around　the　hood　of　the　truck；　still　muttering；　and　Brutal　tipped　me　a　wink。　As　far　as　Coffey　was　concerned；　we　had　ceased　to　exist。　His　head　was　tilted　back　and　he　was　drinking　in　the　sight　of　the　stars　sprawling　across　the　sky。

〃I'll　ride　in　back　with　him；　if　you　want；〃　Brutal　offered。　Behind　us；　the　Farmall's　starter　whined　briefly；　sounding　like　an　old　dog　trying　to　find　its　feet　on　a　cold　winter　morning；　then　the　engine　exploded　into　life。　Harry　raced　it　once　and　let　it　settle　into　a　ragged　idle。　〃No　need　for　both　of　us　to　do　it。〃

〃Get　up　front；〃　I　said。　〃You　can　ride　with　him　on　the　return　trip。　If　we　don't　end　up　making　that　one　locked　into　the　back　of　our　own　stagecoach；　that　is。〃

〃Don't　talk　that　way；〃　he　said；　looking　genuinely　upset。　It　was　as　if　he　had　realized　for　the　first　time　how　serious　this　would　be　for　us　if　we　were　caught。　〃Christ；　Paul！〃

〃Go　on；〃　I　said。　〃In　the　cab。〃

He　did　as　he　was　told。　I　yanked　on　John　Coffey's　arm　until　I　could　get　his　attention　back　to　earth　for　a　bit；　then　led　him　around　to　the　rear　of　the　truck；　which　was　stake…sided。　Harry　had　draped　canvas　over　the　posts；　and　that　would　be　of　some　help　if　we　passed　cars　or　trucks　going　the　other　way。　He　hadn't　been　able　to　do　anything　about　the　open　back；　though。

〃Upsy…daisy；　big　boy；〃　I　said。

〃Goin　for　the　ride　now？〃

〃That's　right。〃

〃Good。〃　He　smiled。　It　was　sweet　and　lovely；　that　smile；　perhaps　the　more　so　because　it