И проиграли бой

           Jimgatheredsomeofitonhiseatingstickandblewitcool."Ittastesgood,"hesaid."I’mhalf-starved,Iguess."

           "Well,yououghttobe,ifyouaren’t.London’soversupervisingtheplatform.Comeon,let’sgoover."Theyslushedthroughthemud,steppingclearofthetrackswhenanyuntrampledgroundshowed.Inbackofthestovesthenewplatformstood,alittledeck,constructedofoldfence-postsandculvertplanks.Itwasraisedaboutfourfeetabovethegroundlevel.Londonwasjustnailingonahand-rail."Hello,"hesaid."Howwasbreakfast?"

           "Roastdirtwouldtasteswellthismorning,"saidMac."Thisisthelast,ain’tit?"

           "Yep.Theyain’tnomorewhenthat’sgone."

           "MaybeDick’llhavebetterlucktoday,"Jimsuggested."Whydon’tyouletmegooutandrustlefood,Mac?I’mnotdoinganything."

           Macsaid,"You’restayin’here.Look,London,thisguy’smarked;theytrytogethimtwicealready,andherehewantstogooutandwalkthestreetsalone."

           "Don’tbeadamnfool,"saidLondon."We’regoin’putyouonthetruckwiththecoffin.Youcan’twalknonewiththathurt.Yourideonthetruck."

           "Whatth’hell?"Jimbegan.

           Londonscowledathim."Don’tgetsmartwithme,"hesaid."I’mthebosshere.Whenyougettobeboss,youtellme.I’mtellin’you,now."Jim’seyesflaredrebelliously.HelookedquicklyatMacandsawthathewasgrinningandwaiting."O.K.,"saidJim."I’lldowhatyousay."