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Chapter 11
Londonstoodstill,listeningandnoddinghisbigheadslowlyupanddown."Youguysgotitright,"heagreed."LookatDakin.Helethisdamntruckmakehimmad.Iheardhecomesupfortrialtomorrow—forassault."
Macquicklyturnedoutthescrewsandlaidtheminalineontheground.Thelidwasstuck.Hekickeditloosewithhisheel.
Joylookedflatandsmallandpainfullyclean.Hehadonacleanblueshirt,andhisoilsoiledbluejeans.Thearmswerefoldedstifflyacrossthestomach."Allhegotwasashotofformaldehyde,"Macsaid.AstubblewasgrowingonJoy’scheeks,lookingverydarkagainstthegrey,waxyskin.Hisfacewascomposedandrested.Thegnawingbitternesswasgonefromit.
"Helooksquiet,"Jimremarked.
"Yes,"saidMac."That’sthetrouble.Itwon’tdonogoodtoshowhim.Helookssocomfortablealltheguys’llwanttogetrightinwithhim."Thedoctormovedcloseandlookeddownatthecoffinforamoment,andthenhewalkedtoaboxandsatdown.Hisbig,plaintiveeyesfastenedonMac’sface.MacstillstaredatJoy."Hewassuchagoodlittleguy,"hesaid."Hedidn’twantnothingforhimself.Y’see,hewasn’tverybright.Butsomewayhegotitintohisheadsomethingwaswrong.Hedidn’tseewhyfoodhadtobedumpedandlefttorotwhenpeoplewerestarving.Poorlittlefool,hecouldneverunderstandthat.Andhegotthenotionhemighthelptostopit.Iwonderhowmuchhehelped?It’sawfulhardtosay.Maybenotatall—maybealot.Youcan’ttell."Mac’svoicehadbecomeunsteady.Thedoctor’seyesstayedonhisface,andthedoctor’smouthwassmilingacurioushalf-sardonic,half-kindlysmile.Jiminterposed,"Joywasn’tafraidofanything."
