И проиграли бой

           "Goodmorningagain,"hesaid,andhesawherlipsformtoalineofdeepanddeliciousunderstanding.Andwhenhepassedalong,andthetousledheaddartedoutandthehuskyvoicewhispered,"Comeonin,quick,he’sgonenow,"Jimonlyglanced,andwentquicklyonwithoutresponding.

           Menweregatheringabouttheoldstoves,stretchingtheirhandstothewarmth,waitingpatientlyuntilthebeefandbeansinthebigwash-boilersshouldbehot.Jimsteppedtoawater-barrelanddippedsomewaterintoatinbasin.Hethrewthecoldwaterintohisface,andintohishair,andherubbedhishandstogetherwithoutsoap.Heletthewaterclingindropstohisface.

           Macsawhimandwalkedover,holdingoutafoodcan."Irinseditout,"hesaid."What’sthematter,Jim?Youlooktickledtodeath."

           "Isawawoman——"

           "Youcouldn’t.Didn’thavetime."

           "Ijustsawher,"saidJim."Shewascombingherhair.It’safunnything—sometimesapersongetsintoanordinaryposition,anditseemswonderful,itjuststaysinyourmindallyourlife."

           "IfIsawadecentlookingwoman,I’dgonuts,"saidMac.

           Jimlookeddownintotheemptycan."Shehadherheadback.Shewascombingherhair—shehadafunnykindofasmileonherface.Youknow,Mac,mymotherwasaCatholic.Shedidn’tgotochurchSundaysbecausemyoldmanhatedchurchesasbadaswedo.Butinthemiddleoftheweek,sometimes,she’dgointothechurchwhenmyoldmanwasworking.WhenIwasalittlekidshetookmeinsometimes,too.