И проиграли бой

           Thebandofmenmovedalongbehindthestretcher,andmorewererunninginfromallovertheorchard.Astheydrewnearthepacking-planttherumbleofthesortingbeltstopped.Menandwomencrowdedoutoftheloadingdoors.Aquiethadsettledonthegrowingmob.Themenwalkedstiffly,asmendoatafuneral.

           Maccametearingaroundthecornerofthepacking-plant.HesawJimandrantohim."Whatisit?Comeoverhereawayfromthemob."Thecrowdofominous,quietpeoplemovedonafterthestretcher.Newcomersweretoldinlowtones,"Theladder.Anoldladder."ThebodyofthemobwentaheadofMacandJim.

           "Nowwhathappened?Tellmequick.We’vegottomovewhilethey’rehot."

           "ItwasoldDan.Hegotsmartabouthowstronghewas.Brokeacoupleofrungsoutofaladderandfellonhisback.Hethoughthebrokehiship."

           Macsaid,"Well,it’shappened.Ikindofexpectedit.Itdoesn’ttakemuchwhentheguysfeelthisway.They’llgrabonanything.Theoldbuzzardwasworthsomethingafterall."

           "Worthsomething?"Jimasked.

           "Sure.Hetippedthethingoff.Wecanusehimnow."Theywalkedquicklyafterthemobofmen.Thedust,raisedbymanyfeet,filledtheairwithaslow-blowingbrowncloud.Fromthedirectionofthetowntheswitch-enginecrashedmonotonouslymakingupatrain.Ontheoutskirtsofthemobwomenranabout,butthemenweresilent,trudgingonafterthestretcher,towardthebunkhouses.

           "Hurryup,Jim,"Maccried."We’vegottorush."