И проиграли бой

           Themotorsstartedandstruggledagainsttheirage.Thechosenmenclimbedinandtooktheirplaces.Londonheldupbothhandstostopthenoise.Heshouted,"Threepairsgothatway,andtwothisway."Thegearsdroppedin.Thecarscrawledacrosstheditchandlinedupintheroad.Raidersstoodupandwavedtheirhatsfuriously,andshooktheirfistsandmademurderouscutsintheairwiththeirclubs.Thecarsmovedawayslowly,intwodirections,andthemobleftinthecampshriekedafterthem.

           Whentheyhadgone,theshoutingstoppedsuddenly.Themenstood,wonderinganduneasy.Theylookeddowntheroadandsawthecarsjogoutofsight.MacandJimandLondonwalkedbackintothecampsidebyside.

           "IhopetoChristtheydosomedamage,"Macsaid."Ifeverythinghappenstousandnothingtoanybodyelse,wearen’tgoin’tolastmuchlonger.Comeon,Jim.Let’stakealookattheoldguyDan.An’thenmaybewecangetsomeguystogetherandgooverandseeAl.IpromisedAlsomething.He’llneedsomeencouragement."

           Londonsaid,"I’mgoin’toseeaboutgettin’somewater.Thebarrel’slow."

           Jimledthewaytothehospitaltent.Theflapsweretiedbacktoletinthemorningsunshine.InapoolofsunoldDanlay.Hisfacewastransparentwhiteandwaxen,andheavyblackveinspuffedoutonhischeeks."Howyoufeeling,Dan?"Jimasked.

           Theoldmanmumbledweakly.

           "What’sthatyousay?"Macbentovertohear.

           Dan’slipsworkedcarefullythistime."Iain’thadnothingtoeat."

           Jimcried,"Youpoordevil.I’llgetyousomething."Hesteppedoutofthedoor."Mac,"heshouted,"they’recomingback."