И проиграли бой

           Londonsaid,"Igotnothingagainstreds.Y’alwayshearhowthey’resons-of-bitches.Sam’skindofrattlesnakeandwhiptempered,butheain’tnoson-of-a-bitch.Let’sgooveran’getsomefood."

           Macstoodup."I’llbringyouandLisasome,Jim."

           Londonsaid,fromthedoorway,"Moon’scomin’upnice.Ididn’tknowitwasfullmoon."

           "Itisn’t.Wheredoyouseeit?"

           "Look,seeoverthere?Lookslikemoon-rise."

           Macsaid,"Thatain’teast—Oh,Jesus!It’sAnderson’s.London"heshouted."They’vesetfiretoAnderson’s!Gettheguys.Comeon,Goddamnit!Wherearethoseguards?Gettheguysquick!"Heranawaytowardthered,gatheringlightbehindthetrees.

           Jimjumpedupfromthemattress.Hedidn’tfeelhiswoundedarmasheranalong,fiftyyardsbehindMac.HeheardLondon’svoiceroaring,andthenthedrummingofmanyfeetonthewetground.Hereachedthetreesandspeededup.Theredlightmushroomedoutbehindthetrees.Itwasmorethanaglownow.Alanceofflameclearedthetree-tops.Abovethesoundofstepstherewasaviciouscrackling.Fromaheadcameshrillcriesandamuffledhowling.Thetreesthrewshadowsawayfromthelight.Theendoftheorchardrowwasblockedwithfire,andinfrontofitblackfiguresmovedabout.JimcouldseeMacpoundingaheadofhim,andhecouldheartheincreasing,breathyroaroftheflames.Hesprinted,caughtupwithMac,andranbesidehim."It’sthebarn,"hegasped."Weretheapplesoutyet?"

           "Jim!Damnit,youshouldn’tcome.No,theapplesareinthebarn.Wherethehellweretheguards?Can’ttrustanybody."