И проиграли бой

           Theydog-trottedalongtheroad.Thesunwasgoingdownbynow,andtheroadwasinablueeveningshadow.Aheavycloudsailedlikeashiptowardthesun,anditsdarkedgereddenedasitdrewnear.Themenjumpedfortheditchagainwhentheambulancecameback.Themotorcycleswentbymoreslowlythistime,thepolicemenlookingdowntherowsastheywent,buttheydidnotsearchtheditch.

           Astheeveningfellthepicketscamebacktothecamp.Jim’slegswerewobblingunderhim.Hisshoulderstungdeeply,forthenerveswereawakeningafterbeingstunnedbythehigh-poweredbullet.Themendispersedintothecamp.

           MacwalkedovertowardJim,andwhenhesawhowwhiteJimwas,hebrokeintoatrot."What’sthematterwithyou,Jim?Didyougethurt?"

           "No,notmuch.SamsaysI’mshotintheshoulder.Ican’tseeit.Itdoesn’thurtmuch."

           Mac’sfaceturnedred."ByGod,IknewIshouldn’tletyougo."

           "Whynot?I’mnopansy."

           "Maybeyouaren’tone,butyou’llbepushing’emupprettysoon,ifIdon’twatchyou.Comeon,letDoclookatyou.Hewasrighthereaminuteago.Therehegoes.Hi,Doc!"TheytookJimintoawhitetent."Thisonejustcamein.Doc’sgoingtouseitforahospital,"saidMac.

           Theautumndarknesswasfallingquickly,andtheeveningwashastenedbythebigblackcloud,whichspreadoutoverthewesternsky.MacheldalanternwhileBurtonpulledJim’sshirtfreeofhisshoulder.Hewashedthewoundcarefully,withhot,sterilewater."Luckyboy,"hesaid.