had　been　with　John。。。　and　whatever　spirit　it　is　that　opposes　that　other；　demonic　one；　it　was　in　John　Coffey　that　night。　And；　when　John　stepped　forward　to　face　Warden　Moores；　it　was　that　other　spirit　…　something　white；　that's　how　I　think　of　it；　as　something　white　…　which　took　control　of　the　situation。　The　other　thing　didn't　leave；　but　I　could　see　it　drawing　back　like　a　shadow　in　a　sudden　strong　light。

〃I　want　to　help；〃　John　Coffey　said。　Moores　looked　up　at　him；　eyes　fascinated；　mouth　hanging　open。　When　Coffey　plucked　the　Buntline　Special　from　his　hand　and　passed　it　to　me；　I　don't　think　Hal　even　knew　it　was　gone。　I　carefully　lowered　the　hammer。　Later；　when　I　checked　the　cylinder；　I　would　find　it　had　been　empty　all　along。　Sometimes　I　wonder　if　Hal　knew　that。　Meanwhile；　John　was　still　murmuring。　〃I　came　to　help　her。　Just　to　help。　That's　all　I　want。〃

〃Hal！〃　she　cried　from　the　back　bedroom。　Her　voice　sounded　a　little　stronger　now；　but　it　also　sounded　afraid；　as　if　the　thing　which　had　so　confused　and　unmanned　us　had　now　retreated　to　her。　〃Make　them　go　away；　whoever　they　are！　We　don't　need　no　sales　men　in　the　middle　of　the　night！　No　Electrolux！　No　Hoover！　No　French　knickers　with　e　in　the　crotch！　Get　them　out！　Tell　them　to　take　a　flying　fuck　at　a　rolling　d　。。。　d　。。。〃　Something　broke　…　it　could　have　been　a　waterglass　…　and　then　she　began　to　sob。

〃Just　to　help；〃　John　Coffey　said　in　a　voice　so　low　it　was　hardly　more　than　a　whisper。　He　ignored　the　woman's　sobbing　and　profanity　equally。　〃Just　to　help；　boss；　that's　all。〃

〃You　can't；〃　Moores　said。　〃No　one　can。〃　It　was　a　tone　I'd　heard　before；　and　after　a　moment　I　realized　it　was　how　I'd　sounded　myself　when　I'd　gone　into　Coffey's　cell　the　night　he　cured　my　urinary　infection。　Hypnotized。　You　mind　your　business