И проиграли бой

           "Let’sgointhebackway."Hetriedtoopenthepicketgatequietly,butthelatchclickedandthehingesgrowled.Theywalkeduptheshortpathtotheporchwithitsyellowingpassionvine.Macknockedonthedoor.

           Avoicefrominsidecalled,"Whoisit?"

           "Isthatyou,Al?"

           "Yeah."

           "Areyoualone?"

           "Yeah.Whoareyou?"

           "It’sMac."

           "Oh,comeonin,Mac.Thedoorain’tlocked."

           Theywentintothekitchen.Allayonhisnarrowbedagainstthewall.Heseemedtohavegrowngauntinthefewdays.Theskinhunglooselyonhisface."Hi,Mac.Ithoughtnobody’devercome.Myoldmanwentoutearly."

           "Wetriedtogetoverbefore,Al.How’sallthehurts?"

           "Theyhurtplenty,"saidAl."Andwhenyou’reallalonetheyhurtworse.Whoburnedthebarn,Mac?"

           "Vigilantes.We’resorryashell,Al.Wehadguardshere,buttheygotafastonepulledon’em."

           "Myoldmanjustraisedhellallnight,Mac.Talkedallnight.Givemehellaboutfourtimesanhour,allnight."

           "We’redamnsorry."