И проиграли бой

           Samspokesoftlyashemoved."Youain’tshootin’nobody,fella.Youmightgetoneofus,andtherest’dslaughteryou."Hisvoicewaslowandpassionless.Hismenmovedalong,tenfeetbehindhim.Hestopped,directlyinfrontofthechecker.Thequiveringgunpointedathischest."Wejustwanttotalk,"hesaid,andwithonemovementhestoopedanddived,likeafootballtackle,andclippedthefeetfromunderthechecker.Thegunexploded,anddugapitintheground.Samspunoveranddrovehiskneesbetweenthelegsofthechecker.Thenhejumpedup,leavingtheman,writhingandcryinghoarsely,ontheground.Forasecondboththepickersandthestrikershadstoodstill.Toolatethepickersturnedtorun.Menswarmedonthem,cursingintheirthroats.Thepickersfoughtforamoment,andthenwentdown.

           Jimstoodalittleapart;hesawapickerwrigglefreeandstarttorun.Hepickedupaheavyclodandhurleditattheman,struckhiminthesmalloftheback,andbroughthimdown.Thegroupsurroundedthefallenman,feetworking,kickingandstamping;andthepickerscreamedfromtheground.Jimlookedcoldlyatthechecker.Hisfacewaswhitewithagonyandwetwiththeperspirationofpain.

           Sambrokefreeandleapedatthekicking,stampingmen."Layoff,God-damnyou,layoff,"heyelledatthem;andstilltheykicked,growlingintheirthroats.Theirlipswerewetwithsaliva.Sampickedanappleboxfromthepileandsmasheditoverahead."Don’tkill’em,"heshouted."Don’tkill’em."

           Thefurydepartedasquicklyasithadcome.Theystoodawayfromthevictims.Theypantedheavily.Jimlookedwithoutemotionatthetenmoaningmenontheground,theirfaceskickedshapeless.Herealipwastornaway,exposingbloodyteethandgums;onemancriedlikeachildbecausehisarmwasbentsharplybackward,brokenattheelbow.