И проиграли бой

           "Solong,"saidMac."I’llgetbackassoonasIcan.I’dliketofindoutwhat’sgoingon.MaybeIcangetapaper."

           "Solong."

           Macwentsilentlyoutofthedoorway.Londonheardhimspeaktoaguard,andthen,fartheroff,toanother.Evenafterhewasgone,Londonlistenedtothesoundsofthenight.Itwasquietoutside,buttherewasnofeelingofsleep.Thefootstepsoftheprowlingguardscameandwent,andtheirvoicessoundedinshortgreetingswhentheymet.Theroosterscrowed,onenear,andfarawaythedeepvoiceofanold,wisecock—trainbellandspurtofsteamandpoundingofastartingengine.Londonsatdownonthemattress,besideJim,onefoldedlegflat,andtheotherstandingupandclaspedbetweenhishands.Hebowedhisheadoverhiskneeandrestedhischin,andhiseyesquestionedJimandprobedhim.

           Jimmovedrestlessly.Onearmflungoutanddroppedagain.Hesaid,"Oh—and—water."Hebreathedheavily."Tarovereverything."Hiseyesopenedandblinkedquickly,sightlessly.LondonunclaspedhishandsasthoughtotouchJim,buthedidn’ttouchhim.Theeyesclosedandwerequiet.Agreattransporttruckrumbledintohearing.Londonheardamuffledcryoutsidethetent,somedistanceaway."Hey,"hecriedsoftly.

           Oneofthepatrolcameup."What’sthematter,Boss?"

           "Wellwho’sdoin’theyellin’?"

           "That?Didn’tyouhearthatbefore?That’stheoldguywiththebustedhip.He’scrazy.They’reholdin’himdown.Fightin’likeacat,an’bitin’.Theygotaraginhismouth."