И проиграли бой

           Theriflespushedintotheirbacksandpunchedthemalongthroughthedarkness.Theleader’svoicesaid,"ThoughtyouwasGod-damnsmart,didn’tyou?Youdidn’tknowthoseday-copspointedyoutwoguysout."Theymarchedacrosstheroad,andinamongthetreesontheotherside."Thoughtyouwasdarnsmart,gettingthemenoutofherebeforedaylight;thoughtyou’dleaveusholdingthesack.Hell,weknewthatgagtenminutesafteryoudecidedit."

           "Whotoldyou,mister?"

           "Don’tyouwishyouknew?"Theirfeetpoundedalong.Theriflesjabbedintotheirbacks.

           "Youtakin’ustojail,mister?"

           "Jail,hell,we’retakin’youGod-damnredstotheVigilanceCommittee.Ifyou’reluckythey’llbeatthecrapoutofyouanddumpyouoverthecountyline;ifyouain’tlucky,they’llstringyouuptoatree.Wegotnouseforradicalsinthisvalley."

           "Butyouguysarecops,yougottotakeustojail."

           "Thatwhatyouthink.There’sanicelittlehousealittlewaysfromhere.That’swherewe’retakingyou."Undertheorchardtreeseventhelittlelightfromthestarswasshutoff."Nowbequiet,youguys."

           Jimcried,"Go,Mac!"andatthesameinstanthedropped.Hisguardtoppledoverhim.Jimrolledaroundthetrunkofatree,stoodupandbolted.Atthesecondrowheclimbedupintoanappletree,farup,amongtheleaves.Heheardascuffleandagruntofpain.Theflashlightdartedaboutandthenfelltothegroundandaimlesslylightedarottenapple.Therecamearipofcloth,andthensteadypoundingoffootsteps.