И проиграли бой

           Theytrudgedslowlyalong,besidethecolumnofmarchingmen."Mac,whoinhellarethesevigilantes,anyway?Whatkindofguysarethey?"

           "Why,they’rethedirtiestguysinanytown.They’rethesameonesthatburnedthehousesofoldGermanpeopleduringthewar.They’rethesameonesthatlynchNegroes.Theyliketobecruel.Theyliketohurtpeople,andtheyalwaysgiveitanicename,patriotismorprotectingtheconstitution.Butthey’rejusttheoldniggertorturersworking.Theownersuse’em,tell’emwehavetoprotectthepeopleagainstreds.Y’seethatlets’emburnhousesandtortureandbeatpeoplewithnodanger.Andthat’salltheywanttodo,anyway.They’vegotnoguts;they’llonlyshootfromcover,organgamanwhenthey’retentoone.Iguessthey’reabouttheworstscumintheworld."HiseyessoughtthebodyofJoy,inthetruck.Hesaid,"DuringthewartherewasalittlefatGermantailorinmytown,andabunchofthesepatrioticbastards,aboutfiftyof’em,startedhishouseonfire,andbeathimtoapulp.They’regreatguys,thesevigilantes.Notlongagotheyshottracerbulletsthroughakerosenetankandstartedafireinabunkhouse.Theydidn’tevenhavethegutstodoitwithamatch."

           Thecolumnmarchedonthroughthecountry,raisingagreatdust.Themenwerecomingslowlyoutoftheirdream.Theytalkedtogetherinlowvoices.Theirfeetscuffedheavilyagainsttheground."PoorJoy,"Jimsaid."Hewasagoodlittlefellow.He’dbeenbeatensomuch.Heremindedmeofmyoldman,alwaysmad."

           Macreprovedhim."Don’tfeelsorryforJoy.Ifhecouldknowwhathedid,he’dbecocky.Joyalwayswantedtoleadpeople,andnowhe’sgoingtodoit,evenifhe’sinabox."

           "Howaboutthescabs,Mac?Wegotabunchofthemwithus."