И проиграли бой

           Thefarmerhurriedbackcarryingashort-handled,heavy-headedhammerinonehandandaknifeintheother.Jimtooktheknifefromhimandlookedatit.Thebladewasgroundawayuntilitwasslenderandbright,andthepointwasneedle-like.Hefelttheedgewithhisthumb."Sharp,"thefarmersaid."He’salwayssharp."Hetooktheknifeback,wipeditonhissleeveandreflectedthelightfromit."Chermansteel.Gootsteel."

           Fourmencamerunningoutofthebarnwitharedyearlingbullcalfbetweenthem.Theyclungtoaropearounditsneckandsteereditbybuttingitwiththeirshoulders.Theydugtheirheelsintothegroundtostopit,andheldit,plunging,betweenthem.

           "Overhere,"thefarmersaid."Herethebloodcouldgointotheground."

           Macsaid,"Weoughttosavetheblood.It’sgoodstrongfood.Ifonlywehadsomethingtocarryitin."

           "Myoldmanusedtodrinkit,"saidJim."Ican’tdrinkit:makesmesick.Here,Mac,youtakethehammer.Now,youhithimrighthereonthehead,goodandhard."HehandedtheknifetoAlbertJohnson."Look.Seewheremyhandis?Nowthat’stheplacetostickhim,justassoonasMachitshim.There’sabigarterythere.Getitopen."

           "How’saguytoknow?"

           "You’llknow,allright.It’llshootbloodlikeahalf-inchpipe.Standbackoutoftheway,youguys."

           Twomenonthesidesheldtheplungingcalf.Macsluggedittoitsknees.Albertdroveintheknifeandcutthearteryopenandjumpedbackfromthespurtingblood.Thecalfleaped,andthensettledslowlydown.Itschinrentedflatontheground,anditslegsfoldedup.Thethick,carminebloodpoolspreadoutonthewetground.