И проиграли бой

           "Who’syellow?There’sjustthreeofus.Butifyou’renotoutoftheValleybymorning,there’llbefifty."

           "Steponit,Jim!"

           Theengineroared.TheFordbuckedaheadlikeahorse.Themanonthesidespunoffintothedarkness,andthemaninfrontjumpedforhislife.Therattlingcarleapedovertheroadwithanoiseoffallingandirons.

           Maclookedoverhisshoulder."Theflashlight’sgone,"heshouted.

           Jimranthecarbehindthelongbuilding.Theyjumpedoutandsprintedaroundtheendofthebunkhouse.

           Thespaceinfrontofthedoorwayswasdensewithmenstandingingroups,talkinginlowtones.Onthedoorstepsthewomensat,huggingtheirskirtsdownaroundtheirknees.Adroning,monotonoushumoftalkcamefromthegroups.Atleastfivehundredmenwerethere,menfromotherranches.ThetoughkidJimhadspokentostalkednear."Didn’tbelieveme,huh?Well,how’sthislooktoyou?"

           Macaskedhim,"SeenLondon?"

           "SureIseenhim.Weelectedhimchairman.He’sinhisroomnowwiththecommittee.ThoughtIwasnuts,didn’tyou?"hesaidtoJim."ItoldyouIwasonthein."

           MacandJimedgedtheirwayamongthecrowdedmenandintothehumofvoices.London’sdoorwasclosed,andhiswindowwasclosed.Apressofmenstoodontiptoeandlookedthroughtheglassintothelightedroom.Macstartedupthesteps.Twomenthrewthemselvesinhisway."Whatthehelldoyouwant?"