И проиграли бой

           Jimsettleddownononeknee."Look,iftheycomethroughwithgunsthey’regoingtokillalotofourguys."

           Mac’seyesgrewslittedandcold."Wekeepswitchingsides,Jim.Supposetheydokillsomeofourmen?Thathelpsourside.Foreverymantheykilltennewonescomeovertous.Thenewsgoescreepingaroundthecountryandmenalloverhearitandgetmad.Guysthatarejusthalf-warmgethot,see?Butifwesneakoffandthewordgetsaround,andmensay’Theydidn’tevenputupafight,’whyalltheworkingstiffswillbeunsureofthemselves.Ifwefight,an’thenewsgetsaround,othermeninthesameposition’llfighttoo."

           Jimputdowntheotherkneeandsquattedonhisheels."Iwantedtogetthethingstraight.Butwilltheguysfight?"

           "Idon’tknow.Rightnowtheywon’t.They’reprettysick.Maybelater.Maybeifwecouldthrow’emanotherchickenlikeBurketheywould.Burkesteppedonthethirdrailjustintime,justwhenweneededhim.Maybesomebodyelse’llspillalittlebloodforthecause."

           Jimsaid,"Mac,ifblood’sallweneed,Icouldpulloffthisbandageandstarttheholebleeding."

           "You’rekindoffunny,Jim,"Macsaidkindly."You’resoGoddamnserious."

           "Idon’tseeanythingfunny."

           "No.Remembertheladythatwasbuyingadog?Sheasks,’Areyousurehe’sabloodhound?’Theownersays,’Sureheis.Bleedforthelady,Oscar.’"

           Jimsmiledthinly.Macwenton,"No,Jim,you’remoreusetothecausethanahundredoftheseguys."