My　mind　had　begun　to　move　very　fast。　I　looked　at　Harry　and　Dean；　who　were　staring　at　me　like　scared　kids。　I　looked　at　Percy；　who　was　standing　there　with　his　hands　and　jaw　dangling。　Then　I　looked　at　my　old　friend；　Brutus　Howell。

〃We're　going　to　be　okay；〃　I　said。

Percy　at　last　menced　coughing。　He　doubled　over；　hands　on　his　knees；　almost　retching。　His　face　began　to　turn　red。　I　opened　my　mouth；　meaning　to　tell　the　others　to　stand　back；　but　I　never　got　a　chance。　He　made　a　sound　that　was　a　cross　between　a　dry　heave　and　a　bullfrog's　croak；　opened　his　mouth；　and　spewed　out　a　cloud　of　black；　swirling　stuff。　It　was　so　thick　that　for　a　moment　we　couldn't　see　his　head。　Harry　said　〃Oh　God　save　us〃　in　a　weak　and　watery　voice。　Then　the　stuff　turned　a　white　so　dazzling　it　was　like　January　sun　on　fresh　snow。　A　moment　later　the　cloud　was　gone。　Percy　straightened　slowly　up　and　resumed　his　vacant　gaze　down　the　length　of　the　Green　Mile。

〃We　didn't　see　that；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Did　we；　Paul？〃

〃No。　I　didn't　and　you　didn't。　Did　you　see　it；　Harry？〃

〃No；〃　Harry　said。

〃Dean？〃

〃See　what？〃　Dean　took　his　glasses　off　and　began　to　polish　them。　I　thought　he　would　drop　them　out　of　his　trembling　hands；　but　he　managed　not　to。

〃　See　what；　that's　good。　That's　just　the　ticket。　Now　listen　to　your　scoutmaster；　boys；　and　get　it　right　the　first　time；　because　time　is　short。　It's　a　simple　story。　Let's　not　plicate　it。〃

3。

I　told　all　this　to　Jan　at　around　eleven　o'clock　that　morning　…　the　next　morning；　I　almost　wrote；　but　of　course　it　was　the　same　day。　The　longest　one　of　my　whole　life；　without　a　doubt。　I　told　it　pretty　much　as　I　have　here；　finishing　with　how　William　Wharton　had　ended　up　lying　dead　on　his　bunk；　riddled　with　lead　from　Percy's　sidearm。