И проиграли бой

           Wouldn’tbetheirfaulttheywerethatway.Youcouldn’tsay,’Thosedogsarethatwaybecausetheyhaven’tanyambition.Theydon’tsavetheirbones.Dogsalwaysarethatway.’No,you’dtrytocleanthemupandfeedthem.Iguessthat’sthewayitiswithme.Ihavesomeskillinhelpingmen,andwhenIseesomewhoneedhelp,Ijustdoit.Idon’tthinkaboutitmuch.Ifapaintersawapieceofcanvas,andhehadcolors,well,he’dwanttopaintonit.Hewouldn’tfigurewhyhewantedto."

           "Sure,Igetyou.Inonewayitseemscold-blooded,standingasideandlookingdownonmenlikethat,andnevergettingyourselfmixedupwiththem;butanotherway,Doc,itseemsfineasthedevil,andclean."

           "Oh,Mac,I’maboutoutofdisinfectant.You’llgetnomorefinesmellifIdon’tgetsomemorecarbolic."

           "I’llseewhatIcando,"saidMac.

           Ahundredyardsawayayellowlightwasshining."Isn’tthatAnderson’shouse?"Jimasked.

           "Iguessitis.Weoughttopickupaguardprettysoon."Theywalkedontowardthelight,andtheywerenotchallenged.Theycametothegateofthehouse-yardwithoutbeingchallenged.Macsaid,"God-damnit,wherearetheguysLondonsentover?Goonin,Doc.I’mgoingtoseeifIcan’tfind’em."Burtonwalkedupthepathandintothelightedkitchen.MacandJimwenttowardthebarn,andinsidethebarntheyfoundthemen,lyingdowninthelowbedofhaysmokingcigarettes.Akerosenelamphungonahookonthewallandthrewayellowlightonthelineofemptystallsandonthegreatpileofboxedapples—Anderson’scrop,waitingtobemoved.

           Macsplutteredwithanger,buthequicklycontrolledhimself,andwhenhespokehisvoicewassoftandfriendly."Listen,youguys,"heargued."Thisisn’tanyjoke.