И проиграли бой

           Nowthattheycouldsee,theguardshadgivenuptheirpacing.Theystoodintiredgroups,handsinpockets,coatsturnedupandbuttonedovertheirthroats.Andtheytalkedinthesoftmonotoneofmenwhoonlytalktostayawake.

           MacandJimapproachedagroupofthemontheirwaytothestove."Anythinghappenlastnight?"Macasked.

           Talkstopped.Themenlookedathimwithweary,blood-shoteyes."Notathing,buddy.Frankwasjustsayin’—sayin’hehadafeelin’therewaspeoplemovin’aroundallnight.Ihadthatfeelin’too,justcreepin’around;butwedidn’thearnothing.Wewentaroundtwotogether."

           Maclaughed,andhisvoiceseemedtopenetratedeepintotheair."Iwasinthearmy,"hesaid,"trainedinTexas.ByChrist,whenI’dgoonguarddutyIcouldhearGermansallaroundme,couldhear’emwhisperinginGerman."Themenchuckledsoftly,withoutamusement.

           Onesaid,"Londontolduswecouldsleeptoday.Soon’sIgetsomethin’inmystomach,I’mgoin’torollin."

           "Metoo.Rollrightin.Igotgravelinmyskin,likeahop-head.Everseenahop-headwhenhe’sgotbugsinhisskin?Makeyoulaughtowatchhim."

           Macasked,"Why’n’tyoucomeovertothestovesan’warmup?"

           "Well,wewasjusttalkin’aboutdoin’that."

           Jimsaid,"I’mgoingdowntothecan,Mac.Seeyouoveratthestove."Hewalkeddownthelineoftents,andeachtentwasalittlecaveofdarkness.Snorescamefromsome,andintheentrancesofothersmenlayontheirstomachsandlookedoutatthemorning,andtheireyeswerefulloftheinwardnessofsleep.