И проиграли бой

           That’sthewayitwaswithme,Mac,whenmymotherwasdying,andshewouldn’tevenspeaktome.IjustgotsomiserableI’d’vetakenanychance.Don’tyouworryaboutit."

           Macturnedonhim."Catchingmeupagain,areyou?I’llgetmadifyoushowmeuptoooften.Goliedownonthegirl’smattressthere.You’vegotabadarm.Itmusthurtbynow."

           "Itburnssome,allright."

           "Well,liedownthere.Seeifyoucan’tgetsomesleep."Jimstartedtoprotest,andthenhewenttothemattressonthegroundandstretchedoutonit.Thewoundthrobbeddownhisarmandacrosshischest.Heheardtherainincreaseuntilitsweptonthecanvas,likeabroom.Heheardthebigdropsfallinginsidethetent,andthen,whenaplaceleakedinthecenterofthetent,heheardtheheavydropssplashonthecoffinbox.

           Macstillsatbesideit,holdinghisheadinhisarms.AndLondon’seyes,likethesleeplesseyesofalynx,staredandstaredatthelamp.Thecampwasquietagain,andtherainfellsteadily,outofawindlesssky.ItwasnotverylongbeforeJimfellintoaburningsleep.Therainpoureddownhourafterhour.Onthetent-polethelamplightyellowedanddroppedtothewick.Ablueflamesputteredforawhile,andthenwentout.