И проиграли бой

           "No,"saidJim."WhenIgotinjail,therewerefiveothermeninthesamecell,pickedupatthesametime—aMexicanandaNegroandaJewandacoupleofplainmongrelAmericanslikeme.’Coursetheytalkedtome,butitwasn’tthat.I’dreadmorethantheyknew."Hepickedupamapleleaffromthegroundandbegancarefullystrippingthecoveringfromthehand-likeskeleton."Look,"hesaid."Allthetimeathomewewerefighting,fightingsomething—hungermostly.Myoldmanwasfightingthebosses.Iwasfightingtheschool.Butalwayswelost.AndafteralongtimeIguessitgottobepartofourmind-stuffthatwealwayswouldlose.Myoldmanwasfightingjustlikeacatinacornerwithapackofdogsaround.Soonerorlateradogwassuretokillhim;buthefoughtanyway.Canyouseethehopelessnessinthat?Igrewupinthathopelessness."

           "Sure,Icansee,"Macsaid."There’smillionsofpeoplewithjustthat."

           Jimwavedthestrippedleafinfrontofhim,andspunitbetweenhisthumbandforefinger."Therewasmorethanthattoit,"hesaid."Thehousewherewelivedwasalwaysfilledwithanger.Angerhunginthehouselikesmoke;thatbeaten,viciousangeragainsttheboss,againstthesuperintendent,againstthegrocerymanwhenhecutoffcredit.Itwasanangerthatmadeyousicktoyourstomach,butyoucouldn’thelpit."

           "Goon,"saidMac."Idon’tseewhereyou’regetting,butmaybeyoudo."

           Jimjumpedupandstoodinfrontofthebenchandwhippedtheleafskeletonacrosshispalm."I’mgettingtothis:Inthatcellwerefivemenallraisedinaboutthesamecondition.Someofthemworse,even.Andwhiletherewasangerinthem,itwasn’tthesamekindofanger.Theydidn’thateabossorabutcher.Theyhatedthewholesystemofbosses,butthatwasadifferentthing.