И проиграли бой

           "Cameinthemailtonight.ButthankGodforthosedogs!Jumpin,Jim.I’llturnherover."

           Theyrattledthroughtheclearnight.Thelittleflaringheadlampsflickereddizzilyalongtheroad.Jimlookedupattheskyforamoment."Lord,I’mexcited.Lookatthestars,Mac.Millionsof’em."

           "Youlookattheroad,"Macgrowled."Listen,Jim,Ijusthappenedtothink.Thatguythisnoonmeansthey’vegotusspotted.Fromnowonyoubecareful,anddon’tgoawayfromthecrowdveryfar.Ifyouwanttogosomeplace,seeyoutakeaboutadozenmenwithyou."

           "Youmeanthey’lltrytogetus?"

           "You’redamnright!They’llfiguretheycanstoptheruckuswithusoutofit."

           "Well,when’reyougoingtogivemesomethingtodo,Mac?I’mjustfollowingyouaroundlikealittledog."

           "You’relearningplenty,kid.Whenthere’ssomeuseforyou,I’llgetitout,don’tyouworry.Youcantakeoutaflockofpicketsinadayorso.Turnofftotheleft,Jim.Wewon’tbewantingtogothroughtownmuchfromnowon."

           Jimbumpedthecaralongruttyside-roads.Itwasanhourbeforehecamefinallytotheranchandturnedintothedarkroadamongtheappletrees.HethrottleddowntheForduntilitwasbarelyabletofire.Theheadlightsjerkedandshivered.Withoutwarningablindinglightcutoutthroughthedarknessandfellonthemen’sfaces.Atthesamemomenttwomen,muffledinovercoats,steppedintotheroadahead.JimgroundtheFordtoastop.

           Avoicebehindthelightcalled,"Thesearetheguys."Oneoftheovercoatedmenloungedaroundthecarandleanedonthedoor.