far　none　of　the　spectators　had　seen　his　tears　…　his　back　was　to　them　…　but　he　was　crying；　all　right。　Still；　what　could　we　do？　Besides　push　on　with　it；　I　mean？

Brutal　and　I　turned　John　around。　Brutal　pressed　on　one　of　the　big　man's　shoulders　and　John　sat。　He　gripped　Sparky's　wide　oak　arms；　his　eyes　moving　from　side　to　side；　his　tongue　darting　out　to　wet　first　one　corner　of　his　mouth；　then　the　other。

Harry　and　I　dropped　to　our　knees。　The　day　before；　we'd　had　one　of　the　shop…trusties　weld　temporary　flexible　extensions　to　the　chair's　ankle　clamps；　because　John　Coffey's　ankles　were　nigh　on　the　size　of　an　ordinary　fellow's　calves。　Still；　I　had　a　nightmarish　moment　when　I　thought　they　were　still　going　to　e　up　small；　and　we'd　have　to　take　him　back　to　his　cell　while　Sam　Broderick；　who　was　head　of　the　shop　guys　in　those　days；　was　found　and　tinkered　some　more。　I　gave　a　final；　extra…hard　shove　with　the　heels　of　my　hands　and　the　clamp　on　my　side　closed。　John　's　leg　jerked　and　he　gasped。　I　had　pinched　him。

〃Sorry；　John　；〃　I　murmured；　and　glanced　at　Harry。　He　had　gotten　his　clamp　fixed　more　easily　（either　the　extension　on　his　side　was　a　little　bigger　or　John　's　right　calf　was　a　little　smaller）；　but　he　was　looking　at　the　result　with　a　doubtful　expression。　I　guessed　I　could　understand　why；　the　modified　clamps　had　a　hungry　look；　their　jaws　seeming　to　gape　like　the　mouths　of　alligators。

〃It'll　be　all　right〃；　I　said；　hoping　that　I　sounded　convincing　。。。　and　that　I　was　telling　the　truth。　〃Wipe　your　face；　Harry。〃

He　swabbed　at　it　with　his　arm；　wiping　away　tears　from　his　cheeks　and　beads　of　sweat　from　his　forehead。　We　turned。　Homer　Cribus；　who　had　been　talking　too　loudly　to　the　man　sitting　next　to　him　（the　prosecutor；　judging　from　the　string　tie　and　rusty　bl