И проиграли бой

           Thethingwon’tstop.I’mjustalittlepartofit.Itwillgrowandgrow.Thispainintheshoulderiskindofpleasanttome;andIbetbeforehediedJoywasgladforamoment.JustinthatmomentIbethewasglad."

           Theyheardarough,monotonousvoiceoutside,andthenafewshouts,andthentheangrycrowd-roar,abellowlikeananimalinfury."London’stellingthem,"saidJim."They’remad.Jesus,howamadcrowdcanfilltheairwithmadness.Youdon’tunderstandit,Doc.Myoldmanusedtofightalone.Whenhegotlicked,hewaslicked.Irememberhowlonelyitwas.ButI’mnotlonelyanymore,andIcan’tbelicked,becauseI’mmorethanmyself."

           "Purereligiousecstasy.Icanunderstandthat.PartakersofthebloodoftheLamb."

           "Religion,hell!"Jimcried."Thisismen,notGod.Thisissomethingyouknow."

           "Well,can’tagroupofmenbeGod,Jim?"

           Jimwrenchedhimselfaround."Youmaketoodamnmanywords,Doc.Youbuildatrapofwordsandthenyoufallintoit.Youcan’tcatchme.Yourwordsdon’tmeananythingtome.IknowwhatI’mdoing.Argumentdoesn’thaveanyeffectonme."

           "Steadydown,"Burtonsaidsoothingly."Don’tgetsoexcited.Iwasn’targuing,Iwasaskingforinformation.Allofyoupeoplegetangrywhenyou’reaskedaquestion."

           Astheduskturnedintonightthelanternseemedtogrowbrighter,tofinddeepercornersofthetentwithitsyellowlight.Maccameinquietly,asthoughhecreptawayfromthenoiseandshoutingoutside.