И проиграли бой

           Nowthatthefurywaspast,thestrikersweresick,poisonedbytheflowfromtheirownangerglands.Theywereweak;onemanheldhisheadbetweenhishandsasthoughitachedterribly.

           Suddenlyamanwentspinningaroundandaround,croaking.Arifle-cracksoundedfromdowntherow.Fivemencamerunningalong,stoppingtofirenowandthen.Thestrikersbrokeandran,dodgingamongthetreestobeoutofthelineoffire.

           Jimranwiththem.Hewascryingtohimself,"Can’tstandfire.Wecan’tstandfire."Thetearsblindedhim.Hefeltaheavyblowontheshoulderandstumbledalittle.Thegroupreachedtheroadandplungedon,lookingbackovertheirshoulders.

           Samwasbehindthem,runningbesideJim."O.K.,"heshouted."Theystopped."Stillsomeofthemenranoninablindpanic,ranonanddisappearedattheroadintersection.Samcaughttherest."Settledown,"heshouted."Settledown.Nobody’schasin’you."Theycametoastop.Theystoodweaklyatthesideoftheroad."Howmany’dtheyget?"Samdemanded.

           Themenlookedatoneanother.Jimsaid,"Ionlysawoneguyhit."

           "O.K.He’llbeallright,maybe.Gothiminthechest."HelookedmorecloselyatJim."What’sthematterwithyou,kid?You’rebleedin’."

           "Where?"

           "Alldownyourback."

           "Iranintoalimb,Iguess.""Limb,hell."SampulledthebluedenimcoatdownfromJim’sshoulder."Yougotboredwithahigh-power.Canyoumoveyourarm?"