one　to　hit　the　other。　From　over　Dean's　shoulder；　one　blazing　blue　eye　dared　me　to　shoot。　Wharton's　other　eye　was　hidden　by　Dean's　hair。　Behind　them　I　saw　Percy　standing　irresolute；　with　his　baton　half…raised。　And　then；　filling　the　open　doorway　to　the　prison　yard；　a　miracle　in　the　flesh：　Brutus　Howell。　They　had　finished　moving　the　last　of　the　infirmary　equipment；　and　he　had　e　over　to　see　who　wanted　coffee。

He　acted　without　a　moment's　hesitation　…　shoved　Percy　aside　and　into　the　wall　with　tooth…rattling　force；　pulled　his　own　baton　out　of　its　loop；　and　brought　it　crashing　down　on　the　back　of　Wharton's　head　with　all　the　force　in　his　massive　right　arm。　There　was　a　dull　whock！　Sound　…　an　almost　hollow　sound；　as　if　there　were　no　brain　at　all　under　Wharton's　skull　…　and　the　chain　finally　loosened　around　Dean's　neck。　Wharton　went　down　like　a　sack　of　meal　and　Dean　crawled　away；　hacking　harshly　and　holding　one　hand　to　his　throat；　his　eyes　bulging。

I　knelt　by　him　and　he　shook　his　head　violently。　〃Okay；〃　he　rasped。　〃Take　care　。。。　him！〃　He　motioned　at　Wharton。　〃Lock！　Cell！〃

I　didn't　think　he'd　need　a　cell；　as　hard　as　Brutal　had　hit　him；　I　thought　he'd　need　a　coffin。　No　such　luck；　though。　Wharton　was　conked　out；　but　a　long　way　from　dead。　He　lay　sprawled　on　his　side；　one　arm　thrown　out　so　that　the　tips　of　his　fingers　touched　the　linoleum　of　the　Green　Mile；　his　eyes　shut；　his　breathing　slow　but　regular。　There　was　even　a　peaceful　little　smile　on　his　face；　as　if　he'd　gone　to　sleep　listening　to　his　favorite　lullaby。　A　tiny　red　rill　of　blood　was　seeping　out　of　his　hair　and　staining　the　collar　of　his　new　prison　shirt。　That　was　all。

〃Percy；〃　I　said。　〃Help　me！〃

Percy　didn't　move；　only　stood　against　the　wall；　staring　with　wide；　stunned　eyes。　I　don't　think　he