y　as　I　stepped　forward。　When　he　was　backed　up　against　his　bunk　…　it　hit　him　in　the　calves；　that's　how　tall　he　was　…　he　sat　down　on　it。　He　patted　the　mattress　beside　him；　his　eyes　never　once　leaving　mine。　I　sat　down　there　next　to　him；　and　he　put　his　arm　around　my　shoulders；　as　if　we　were　at　the　movies　and　I　was　his　girl。

〃What　do　you　want；　John　Coffey？〃　I　asked；　still　looking　into　his　eyes　…　those　sad；　serene　eyes。

〃Just　to　help；〃　he　said。　He　sighed　like　a　man　will　when　he's　faced　with　a　job　he　doesn't　much　want　to　do；　and　then　he　put　his　hand　down　in　my　crotch；　on　that　shelf　of　bone　a　foot　or　so　below　the　navel。

〃Hey！〃　I　cried。　〃Get　your　goddam　hand………〃

A　jolt　slammed　through　me　then；　a　big　painless　whack　of　something。