Chapter 11

           Theyhadbeans,swimminginporkfattoeat.MacandJimbroughttheircansfromthetentandstoodinlineuntilsomeofthemesswasdumpedintoeachoftheircans.Theywalkedaway.Jimtookalittlewoodenpaddlefromhispocketandtastedthebeans."Mac,"hesaid,"Ican’teatit."

           "Usedtobetterthings,huh?You’vegottoeatit."Hetastedhisown,andimmediatelydumpedthecanontheground."Don’teatit,Jim.It’llmakeyousick,beansandgrease!Theguys’llraisehellaboutthis."

           Theylookedatthemensittinginfrontofthetents,tryingtoeattheirfood.Thestormcloudspreadovertheskyandswallowedthenewstars.Macsaid,"Somebody’lltrytokillthecooks,Iguess.Let’sgoovertoLondon’stent."

           "Idon’tseeDakin’stent,Mac."

           "No,Mrs.Dakintookitdown.Shewentintotownandtookitalongwithher.Funnyguy,Dakin;he’llhavemoneybeforehe’sthrough.Let’sfindLondon."

           TheywalkeddownthelinetothegreytentofLondon.Alightshonethroughthecanvas.Macraisedtheflap.Inside,Londonsatonabox,holdinganopencanofsardinesinhishand.Thedarkgirl,Lisa,crouchedonthefloormattressnursingthebaby.Shedrewapieceofblanketaboutthebabyandtheexposedbreastasthemenentered.Shesmiledquicklyatthem,andthenlookeddownatthebabyagain.

           "Justintimefordinner!"Macsaid.

           Londonlookedembarrassed."Ihadalittlestuffleftover."