И проиграли бой
Chapter 3
Jimpointedtoapileoffinishedlettersonthedesk."Theretheyare,Mac.Threemoretodo,that’sall.Where’dyousaywe’regoing?"
"DowntheTorgasValley.There’rethousandsofacresofapplesreadytopickdownthere.Bedamnneartwothousandfruittramps.Well,theGrowers’Associationjustannouncedapaycuttothepickers.They’llbesoreashell.IfwecangetagoodruckusgoingdowntherewemightbeabletospreaditovertothecottonfieldsinTandale.Andthenwewouldhavesomething.That’dbeafuss!"Hesniffedtheair."Say,thatstewsmellsswell.Isitready?"
"I’lldishitup,"saidJim.Hebroughtintwobowlshalffullofsoup,outofwhicharoseamoundofmeatsquares,potatoesandcarrots,paleturnipsandsteamingwholeonions.
Macputhisbowlonthetableandtastedit."Christ!Letitcool.It’slikethis,Jim,Ialwayssaidweshouldn’tsendgreenmenintotroubleareas.Theymaketoomanymistakes.Youcanreadallthetacticsyouwantanditwon’thelpmuch.Well,Irememberedwhatyousaidintheparkthatnightwhenyoufirstcame,sowhenIgotthisassignment,andit’saniceassignment,IaskedifIcouldtakeyoualongasakindofunderstudy.I’vebeenout,see?I’lltrainyou,andthenyoucantrainnewmen.Kindofliketeachinghuntingdogsbyrunningthemwiththeoldboys,see?Youcanlearnmorebygettingintoitthanbyreadingallyoulike.EverbeenintheTorgasValley,Jim?"
Jimblewonahotpotato."Idon’tevenknowwhereitis,"hesaid."I’veonlybeenoutoftownfourorfivetimesinmylife.Thanksfortakingme,Mac."Hissmallgreyeyeswereashinewithexcitement.
