И проиграли бой
Chapter 9
Dakinhadputonashortdenimjacketandatweedcap.Hispaleeyesdartedaboutoverthefacesofthemen.Hesaid,"I’mgoin’totellyouguyswhat’son,andthenyoucanpulloutofitifyouwantto.Idon’twantnobodytocomethatdon’twanttocome.There’satrain-loadofscabscomin’in.Wefiguretogointownan’trytostop’em.We’lltalkto’emsome,andthenwemighthavetofight’em.How’sthatsoundtoyou?"
Amurmurofassentarose.
"Allright,then.We’llmarchin.Keepyourguysinhand.Keep’emquiet,andonthesideoftheroad."Hegrinnedcoldly."Ifanyof’emwanttopickupafewrocksan’shove’emintheirpockets,Ican’tseenoharminthat."
Themenlaughedappreciatively.
"O.K.Ifyougotthat,gotalktoyourmen.Iwanttogetallthekicksinbeforewestart.I’mgoin’toleaveaboutahundredguystolookafterthecamp.Gogetsomebreakfast."
Themenbrokeandhurriedbacktothestoves.MacandJimmoveduptowheretheleadersstood.Londonwassaying,"Iwouldn’ttrust’emtoputupmuchofascrap.Theydon’tlooknonetoomeantome."
"Tooearlyinthemorning,"Macassuredhim."Theyain’thadtheircoffeeyet.Guysaredifferentbeforethey’veate."Dakindemanded,"Youguysgoin’along?"
"Damnright,"saidMac."Butlook,Dakin,wegotmenoutgettin’foodandsuppliestogether.Fixitsosomecarscangoinforthestuffwhentheysendtheword."
"O.K.We’llneeditbytonight,too.Thembeans’llbeallgone.Ittakesahellofalottofeedabunchlikethis."
