И проиграли бой

           Macconsidered."No—"hesaid,asthoughtohimself,"Youwouldn’tpulloutnow.I’lltellyouwhy,London.Powerinthisvalleyisinveryfewhands.Theguythatcameoutyesterdaywastryingtogetustoquit.Butnowtheyknowwewon’tquit.Theonlythingleftistodriveusoutortokillusoff.Wecouldstand’emoffawhileifwehadfoodandadoctor,andifAndersonwouldbackusup.ButAnderson’ssore.They’llkickusoutiftheyhavetousecannons.Oncetheygetacourtorder,they’llkickusrightout.Thenwherearewegoingtogo?Can’tjungleup,becausethere’llbeordinances.They’llsplitusup,an’beatusthatway.Ourguysaren’tanytoostrongasitis.I’mafraidwecan’tgetanymorestufftoeat."

           Londonsaid,"Whyn’twejusttelltheguystobeatit,an’thewholebunchofusgetout?"

           "Don’ttalksoloud.You’llwakeupthekid.Here’swhy.Theycanscareourguys,butwecanthrowascareintothem,too.We’lltakeonelastshotatthem.We’llhangonaslongaswecan.Iftheykillsomeofusthenews’llgetaroundevenifthepapersdon’tprintit.Otherguys’llgetsore.Andwe’vegotanenemy,see?Guysworktogethernicewhenthey’vegotanenemy.Thatbarnwasburneddownbyourownkindofmen,butthey’vebeenreadingthepapers,see?We’vegottoget’emoveronoursideasquickaswecan."Hetookoutaslim,limpbagoftobacco."I’vebeensavingthis.Iwantasmoke.Yousmoke,London?"

           "No.IchewwhenIcangetit."

           Macrolledhimselfaslendercigaretteinthebrownpaper.Heraisedthelanternchimneytolightthecigarette."Yououghttogetinanap,London.Christknowswhat’sgoingtohappentonight.I’vegottogointownandfindamailbox."