И проиграли бой

           "O.K.,Mac.G’bye."Hewasonhisknees,withhisheadout,lookingintothedark.Inasecondhesquirmedout,andcanvasdroppedbackintoplace.

           Londonsighed."Ihopehemakesit,Mac.He’sagoodguy.Theydon’tmake’emnobetter."

           Macsaid,"Don’tgiveitathought.Somebody’llkillhimsometime,likethatlittleguyJoy.Hewassuretogetpoppedoff.Mean’Jim’llgothatway,soonerorlater.It’salmostsure,butitdoesn’tmakeanydifference."

           London’smouthwasopen."Jesus,whatahellofawaytolookatit.Don’tyouguysgetnopleasure?"

           "Damnright,"saidMac."Morethanmostpeopledo.It’sanimportantjob.Yougetahellofadriveoutofsomethingthathassomemeaningtoit,anddon’tyouforgetit.Thethingthattakestheheartoutofamanisworkthatdoesn’tleadanyplace.Oursisslow,butit’sallgoinginonedirection.Christ,Istandhereshootingoffmyface.I’vegottogo."

           "Don’tlet’emgetyou,Mac."

           "Iwon’t,butlisten,London,there’snothingthoseguyswouldlikebetterthantorubmeandJimout.Icantakecareofmyself.WillyoustayrighthereandnotletanythinghappentoJim?Willyou?"

           "SureIwill.I’llsetrighthere."

           "No,liedownonpartofthemattressandgetsomesleep.Butdon’tlet’emgetthekid.Weneedhim,he’svaluable."

           "O.K."