И проиграли бой

           Itwasn’tthesamekindofanger.Andtherewassomethingelse,Mac.Thehopelessnesswasn’tinthem.Theywerequiet,andtheywereworking;butinthebackofeverymindtherewasconvictionthatsoonerorlatertheywouldwintheirwayoutofthesystemtheyhated.Itellyou,therewasakindofpeacefulnessaboutthosemen."

           "Areyoutryingtoconvertme?"Macaskedsarcastically.

           "No,I’mtryingtotellyou.I’dneverknownanyhopeorpeacefulness,andIwashungryforit.Iprobablyknewmoreaboutso-calledradicalmovementsthananyofthosemen.I’dreadmore,buttheyhadthethingIwanted,andthey’dgotitbyworking."

           Macsaidsharply,"Well,youtypedafewletterstonight.Doyoufeelanybetter?"

           Jimsatdownagain."Ilikeddoingit,Mac,"hesaidsoftly."Idon’tknowwhy.Itseemedagoodthingtobedoing.Itseemedtohavesomemeaning.NothingIeverdidbeforehadanymeaning.Itwasalljustamess.Idon’tthinkIresentedthefactthatsomeoneprofitedfromthemess,butIdidhatebeingintherat-cage."

           Macthrusthislegsoutstraightbeforehimandputhishandsinhispockets."Well,"hesaid,"ifworkwillkeepyouhappy,you’vegotaprettyjollytimeaheadofyou.Ifyou’lllearntocutstencilsandrunamimeographIcanalmostguaranteeyoutwentyhoursaday.Andifyouhatetheprofitsystem,Icanpromiseyou,Jim,youwon’tgetadamncentforit."Hisvoicewasgenial.

           Jimsaid,"Mac,you’rethebossinthejointbackthere,aren’tyou?"