И проиграли бой

           Well,I’mnotaverygoodbusinessman.TherestoftheAssociationexplaineditalltome.Withthepriceofappleswhatitis,we’repayingthetoppricewecan.Ifwepayanymore,welosemoney."

           Macgrinned."Iguessweain’tAmericanworkin’menafterall,"hesaid."Noneofthissoundsreasonabletome.Sofarit’ssoundedlikeasockfullofcrap."

           Jimsaid,"Thereasontheycan’tpaytheraiseisbecausethat’dmeanwewinthestrike;andifwedidthat,alotofotherpoordevils’dgoonstrike.Isn’tthatit,mister?"

           Bolter’ssmileremained."Ithoughtfromthefirstyoudeservedaraise,butIdidn’thaveanypower.Istillbelieveit,andI’mthepresidentoftheAssociation.NowI’vetoldtheAssociationwhatI’mgoingtodo.Someof’emdon’tlikeit,butIinsistedyoumenhavetohavearaise.I’mgoingtoofferyoutwentycents,andnoquestionsandnogrudges.Andwe’llexpectyoubackatworktomorrowmorning."

           LondonlookedaroundatSam.HelaughedatSam’sscowlingface,andslappedtheleanmanontheshoulder."Mr.Bolter,"hesaid,"likeMacsays,Iguessweain’tAmericanworkin’men.Youwantedcardslaiddown,andthenyoulaidyoursdownbacksup.Here’sours,andbyChrist,she’safullhouse.YourGoddamnapplesgottobepickedandweain’tpicking’emwithoutourraise.Norneitherisnobodyelsepickin’’em.Whatdoyouthinkofthat,MisterBolter?"

           AtlastthesmilehadfadedfromBolter’sface.Hesaidgravely,"TheAmericannationhasbecomegreatbecauseeverybodypitchedinandhelped.Americanlaboristhebestlaborintheworld,andthehighestpaid."