И проиграли бой

           "No.Ihopenot.Maybethey’donlybeathelloutofhim.Butsomanyofourguysjustdisappearandnevershowupagain."

           "You’reafine,happyinfluence,"saidJim.

           "Iknow.IfIwasn’tsureyoucouldtakeit,I’dshutup.Makesmefeelbettertogetitoffmychest.IwantacupofcoffeesobadIcouldbustintotears.Justthinkofallthecoffeeweusedtohaveintown.Threecupsifwewanted.Allwewanted."

           Jimsaidsternly,"Maybealittlebitofthatmightbegoodforyou.Youbetterpullupnow.You’llgetfeelingsorryforyourself."

           Mactightenedhislooseface."O.K.,kid.I’mallrightnow.Youwanttogooutside?Canyouwalkallright?"

           "SureIcan."

           "Well,blowoutthatlantern.We’llgoseeaboutsomebeefandbeans."

           TheshadescreechedwhenJimraisedit.Thedawngreyleaptintothetent,greylikeawashofink.Jimliftedthetent-flapsandtiedthemback."Let’sairthisplaceout,"hesaid."It’sgettingstrong.Thewholedamnbunchofuscoulddowithabath."

           Macagreed."I’lltrytogetabucketofwarmwater,andwe’llspongeoffafterweeat."

           Thedawnhadcomeintothesky.Thetreeswerestillblackagainstthelighteast,andacolonyofcrows,flappingeastward,wereetchedheavilyagainstit.Underthetreesaduskstillheld,andtheearthwasdark,asthoughthelighthadtobesuckedinslowly.