И проиграли бой

           "We’regoingtohavecompany,"Macobserved.

           Thelongfreightofemptiescameslowlydowntheyard,redbox-carsandyellowrefrigeratorcars,blackirongondolasandroundtankcars.Theenginewentbyatlittlemorepacethanamancouldwalk,andtheengineerwavedablack,shinygloveatthemenintheditch.Heyelled,"Goingtothepicnic?"andplayfullyreleasedaspurtofwhitesteamfrombetweenthewheels.

           Macsaid,"Wewantabox-car.There,thatone.Thedoor’sopenalittle."Trottingbesidethecarhepushedatthedoor."Giveahand,"hecalled.Jimputhishandtotheironhandleandthrewhisweightagainstit.Thebigslidingdoorscreechedrustilyopenafewfeet.Macputhishandsonthesill,vaulted,turnedintheairandlandedinasittingpositioninthedoorway.QuicklyhestoodupoutofthewaywhileJimimitatedhim.Thefloorofthecarwaslitteredwithliningpaper,torndownfromthewalls.Mackickedapileofthepapertogetherandforceditagainstthewall."Getyourselfsome,"heshouted."Itmakesanicecushion."

           BeforeJimhadpileduphispaper,anewheadappearedinthedoorway.Amanflunghimselfinandtwomorefollowedhim.ThefirstmanlookedquicklyaboutthecarfloorandthenstoodoverMac."Gotjustaboutallofit,didn’tyou?"

           "Gotwhat?"Macaskedinnocently.

           "Thepaper.Youdoneagoodcleanjob."

           Macsmileddisarmingly."Wedidn’tknowtherewasguestscoming."Hestoodup."Here,takesomeofit."ThemangapedatMacforamoment,andthenheleanedoverandpickedupthewholecushionofpapers.