И проиграли бой

           "Fine.Trynottogetcoldinit.Itcouldbenasty,ifyoudon’ttakecareofit.Seeyoulater.Themenwon’tshoveldirtinthetoilets.We’reoutofdisinfectant.Simplyhavetogetsomedisinfectant—anything."Hehurriedaway,mutteringsoftlytohimselfashewent.

           Jimlookedaboutforsomeonetotalkto.Thosemenwhowereinsightwalkedquicklythroughthedrizzlefromonetenttoanother.Theslushinthestreetswasdeepandblackbynow.Oneofthebigbrownsquadtentsstoodnearby.Hearingvoicesinside,Jimwentin.Inthedimbrownlighthesawadozenmensquattingontheirblankets.Thetalkdiedasheentered.Themenlookedupathimandwaited.HereachedinhispocketandbroughtoutthebagoftobaccoMachadgivenhim."Hi,"hesaid.Themenstillwaited.Jimwenton,"I’vegotasorearm.Willoneofyouguysrollmeacigarette?"

           Amansittinginfrontofhimheldoutahand,tookthebagandquicklymadethecigarette.Jimtookitandwavedittoindicatetheothermen."Passitaround.Godknowstheyain’tmuchinthiscamp."Thebagwentfromhandtohand.Astoutlittlemanwithashortmustachesaid,"Sitdown,kid,here,onmybed.Ain’tyoutheguythatgotshotyesterday?"

           Jimlaughed."I’moneof’em.I’mnotthedeadone.I’mtheonethatgotaway."

           Theylaughedappreciatively.Amanwithalantern-jawandshinycheek-bonesbrokeupthelaughter."Whattheygoin’toburythelittleguytodayfor?"

           "Whynot?"Jimasked.

           "Yeah,butevery’bodywaitsthreedays."

           Thestoutlittlemanblewajetofsmoke."Whenyou’redead,you’redead."