И проиграли бой

           "Sure.Idon’tknownothin’aboutyou,"saidAl.

           "That’sright.Nowhere’sthedope,Al.Thisvalley’sabouttobustwideopen.Alreadyhasoverontheplacewherewebeenworking.Theothers’llprobablycracktonight."

           Alsaidsoftly,"Youknow,thewaytheguyswastalkin’inhere,Ithoughtitwasn’tfaroff.Whatd’youwantmetodo?"

           "Bettertakeupthatmeat."Alheldtwoplatesfan-wiseinonehand,putasteakoneach,mashedpotatoes,carrotsandturnips,loadedtheplates.

           "Gravy,gents?"

           "Smearit,"saidMac.

           Alladledgravyoverthewholepileoffoodandsettheplatesbeforethem."Nowgoon,"hesaid.

           Macfilledhismouth.Hisspeechwasmuffledandspacedwithchewing."Yousaidyouroldmanhadalittleranch."

           "Hehas.Wanttohideoutthere?"

           "No."MacpointedhisforkatAl."Therewon’tbeanapplepickedinthisvalley."

           "Well,say—mister——"

           "Wait.Listen.Anyplowlandonyouroldman’splace?"

           "Yeah,aboutfiveacres.Haditinhay.Hay’salloutnow."