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           Outsidethedeputiestriedtoseeinbetweenthestiffbodiesoftheguardians."You’refools,allofyou,"the‘super’said."IfIneed’em,I’llhaveadozenwitnessestoanythingIwant.You’vehadmylastword."

           Theguardianssteppedasideforthe‘super.’Thedeputiesrangedupbesidehim.Notasoundcamefromthebunchedmen.Alaneopenedupforthethreeandtheystrodeoutthroughit.Thesilentmenfollowedthemwiththeireyes,andtheeyeswerepuzzledandangry.Thethreemarchedstifflytoabigroadsterthatstoodatoneendofthebuilding.Theyclimbedinanddroveaway.AndthenthecrowdlookedslowlybackattheopendoorofLondon’sroom.Londonstoodleaningagainstthedoor-jamb,lookingweakandsick.

           MacsteppedintothedoorwayandputhisarmaroundLondon’sshoulders.Theyweretwofeetabovetheheadsofthequietmen.Maccried,"Listen,youguys.Wedidn’twanttotellyoubeforetheygotaway;wewasafraidyou’dstomp’emtodeath.ThatmugcomeheretotrytogetLondontosellyouout.Londonwasgoin’togetasteadyjob,an’youguyswasgoin’togetscrewed."

           Agrowlstarted,asnarlinggrowl.Machelduphishand."Noneedtogetmad,waitaminute,now.Jus’rememberitlater;theytriedtobuyLondon—an’theycouldn’t.Nowshutupforaminute.Wegottogetouto’here.Wegotaranchtostayon.There’sgoin’tobeorder,too.That’stheonlywaywecanwinthis.Weallgottotakeorders.Nowtheguysthatgotcarstakeallthewomenan’kidsan’thetruckthatcan’tbecarried.Therest’llhavetowalk.Nowbenice.Don’tbreaknothing—yet.An’staytogether.Whileyou’regettin’yourstuffpickedup,Londonwantstoseehiscommittee."

           Themomenthestoppedtalkingaturbulencebrokeout.Shoutingandlaughing,themeneddied.Theyseemedfilledwithaterriblejoy,abloody,lustfuljoy.