Chapter 12

           ToJimitseemedthatheawakenedoutofabox.Onewholesideofhimwasencasedinpainfulstiffness.Heopenedhiseyesandlookedaboutthetent.Agreyandlistlessdawnhadcome.Thecoffinstilllaywhereithad,butMacandLondonweregone.Heheardthepoundingthatmusthaveawakenedhim,hammersonwood.Foratimehelayquietlylookingaboutthetent,butatlasthetriedtositup.Theboxofpainheldhim.Herolledoverandclimbeduptohisknees,andthenstoodup,droopinghishurtshouldertoprotectitfromtension.

           TheflapswungupandMacentered.Hisbluedenimjacketglistenedwithmoisture."Hi,Jim.Yougotsomesleep,didn’tyou.How’sthearm?"

           "Stiff,"said."Isitstillraining?"

           "Dirtydrizzle.Doc’scomingtolookatyourshoulderinaminute.Lord,it’swetoutside!Soon’stheguyswalkaroundalittlebit,it’llbeallslop."

           "What’sthepounding?"

           "Well,we’vebeenbuildingthestandforJoy.Evendugupanoldflagtogooverhim."Heheldupasmalldingypackageofcloth,andunrolledit,athreadbareandstainedAmericanflag.Hespreaditcarefullyonthecoffintop."No,"hesaid."Ithinkthat’swrong.Ithinkthefieldshouldbeovertheleftbreast,likethis."

           "It’salousydirtyflag,"Jimsaid.

           "Iknow,butit’llgetoverbig.Docoughttobealonganyminutenow."

           "I’mhungryashell,"saidJim.

           "Whoisn’t?We’regoingtohaverolledoats,straight,forbreakfast,nosugarornomilk—justoats."