И проиграли бой

           "Iknow,"Macsaidwearily."That’sthehardestpart."Hestoodstill,smilinghiscoldsmile,untilLondonwentoutofthetent;andthenhewalkedtothemattressandsatdownandclutchedhisknees.Alloverhisbodythemusclesshuddered.Hisfacewaspaleandgrey.Jimputhisgoodhandoverandtookhimbythewrist.Macsaidwearily,"Icouldn’tofdoneitifyouweren’there,Jim.Oh,Jesus,you’rehard-boiled.Youjustlooked.Youdidn’tgiveadamn."

           JimtightenedhisgriponMac’swrist."Don’tworryaboutit,"hesaidquietly."Itwasn’tascaredkid,itwasadangertothecause.Ithadtobedone,andyoudiditright.Nohate,nofeeling,justajob.Don’tworry.""IfIcouldonlyoflethishandsgo,sohecouldtakeapopatmeonceinawhile,orcoverupalittle."

           "Don’tthinkofit,"Jimsaid."It’sjustalittlepartofthewholething.Sympathyisasbadasfear.Thatwaslikeadoctor’swork.Itwasanoperation,that’sall.I’ddoneitforyouifIwasn’tbungedup.S’posetheguysoutsidehadhim?"

           "Iknow,"Macagreed."They’dbutcheredhim.Ihopetheydon’tcatchanybodyelse;Icouldn’tdoitagain."

           "You’dhavetodoitagain,"saidJim.

           Maclookedathimwithsomethingoffearinhiseyes."You’regettingbeyondme,Jim.I’mgettingscaredofyou.I’veseenmenlikeyoubefore.I’mscaredof’em.Jesus,Jim,Icanseeyouchangingeveryday.Iknowyou’reright.Coldthoughttofightmadness,Iknowallthat.GodAlmighty,Jim,it’snothuman.I’mscaredofyou."