И проиграли бой

           Anordinancewillgothroughtonightforbiddinganyparadingonthecountyroads,oranygathering.Thesheriffwilldeputizeathousandmen,ifheneedsthem."

           LondonglancedquicklyatMac,andMacwinkedathim.Londonsaid,"Jesus,mister,Ihopewecangetyououtofheresafe.Whentheguysouttherehearwhatyoujustsaid,whythey’llwanttotakeyoutopieces."

           Bolter’sjawtightenedandhiseyelidsdrooped.Hestraightenedhisshoulders."Don’tgettheideayoucanscareme,"hesaid."I’llprotectmyhomeandmychildrenwithmylifeifIhaveto.Andifyoulayahandonmewe’llwipeoutyourstrikebeforemorning."

           London’sarmsdoubled,andhesteppedforward,butMacjumpedinhisway."Theguy’sright,London.Hedon’tscare.Plentydo,buthedon’t."Heturnedaround."MisterBolter,we’llseeyougetoutofthecamp.Weunderstandeachothernow.Weknowwhattoexpectfromyou.Andweknowhowcarefulyouhavetobewhenyouuseforce.Don’tforgetthethousandsofpeoplethataresendingusfoodandmoney.They’lldootherthings,iftheyhaveto.Webeengood,Mr.Bolter,butifyoustartanyfunnybusiness,we’llshowyouariotyou’llremember."

           Boltersaidcoldly,"Thatseemstobeall.I’msorry,butI’llhavetoreportthatyouwon’tmeetushalfway."

           "Halfway?"Maccried."Thereain’tanyhalfwaytonowhere."Hisvoicedroppedtosoftness."Londonyougetononesideofhim,andSamontheother,andseethathegetsawayallright.ThenIguessyou’dbettertelltheguyswhathesaid.Butdon’tlet’emgetoutofhand.Tell’emtotightenupthesquadsfortrouble."