И проиграли бой

           Macasked,"Where’sthefiveacres,Al?"

           "Downthatway,behindthetrees,ontheotherroad."

           "Good.Let’sfindyouroldman.Yousayhelikeshisdogs?"

           Allaughedshortly."Justmakeapassatoneo’themdogsan’see.He’lleatyou."

           Jimstaredatthehouse,andatthenewlywhitewashedbarn."Thisisnice,"hesaid."Makesamanwanttoliveinaplacelikethis."

           Alshookhishead."Takesanawfullotofworktokeepitup.Myoldmanworksfromdawntillafterdark,andthenhedon’tkeepupwiththework."

           Macinsisted,"Whereisyouroldman?Let’sfindhim."

           "Look,"Alsaid."That’shimcominginfromtheorchard."

           Macglancedupforamoment,andthenhemovedbacktothekennel.Thesquirmingpointersflungthemselvesatthewire,moaningwithlove.Macstuckhisfingersthroughthemeshandrubbedtheirmuzzles.

           Jimsaid,"Doyoulikedogs,Mac?"

           Macretortedirritably,"Ilikeanything."

           Al’sfathercamewalkingup.HewastotallyunlikeAl,smallandquickasaterrier.Theenergyseemedtopouroutofsomeinnerreservoirintohisarmsandlegs,andintohisfingerssothatallofhimwasonthemoveallofthetime.Hiswhitehairwascoarse,andhiseyebrowsandmustachebristled.Hisbrowneyesflittedaboutasrestlesslyasbees.