И проиграли бой

           Ashewalkedalong,somemencameintotheairandhunchedtheirshouldersanddrewdowntheirnecksagainstthecold.Heheardanirritable,sleepyvoiceofawomandetailinghowshefelt."Iwanttogetouto’thisdump.Whatgoodwedoin’here?An’Igotalumpinmystomachbig’syourfist.It’sacancer,that’swhatitis.Card-readertol’metwoyearsagoI’dgetacancerifIdin’watchout.SaidIwasthecancertype.Sleepin’ontheground,eatin’garbage."Aninaudiblegrumbleanswered.

           AsJimpassedanothertent,atousledheadstuckout."Comeoninquick,kid.He’sgone.""Can’t,"saidJim.

           Twotentsdownamankneelingonhisblanketssaid,"Gotthetime,buddy?"

           "No.Mustbeaftersix,Iguess,though."

           "Iheardhergiveyouthecome-on.Goddamnluckyyoudidn’go.She’scausedmoretroubleinthiscamp’nthescabs.Theyoughttorunherout.Getsever’bodyfightin’.Theygotafiregoin’overthere?"

           "Yes,"saidJim.Hepassedoutfrombetweentherowoftents.Fifteenyardsaway,intheopen,stoodthesquarecanvasscreen.Insidetherewasatwo-by-foursupportedateachend,overahole.Therewasroomonboardforthreemen.Jimpickedupaboxofchlorideoflimeandshookit,butitwasempty.Onemansathunchedupontheboard."Sompin’oughttobedoneaboutit,"hesaid."Whereinhellis’atdoctor?Heain’tdonenothingaboutitsinceyesterday."

           "Maybewecouldshovelinalittledirt,"saidJim."That’dhelp."

           "Itain’tmybusiness.Thatdoctoroughttodosompin’aboutit.Theguysareliablet’getsick."