И проиграли бой

           MacsatdownontheembankmentandcalledJimtositbesidehim."Here’sagoodplace.There’slotsofcarsmoving.Idon’tknowhowlongwe’llhavetowait."Herolledabrowncigarette."Jim,"hesaid."Yououghttotakeupsmoking.It’sanicesocialhabit.You’llhavetotalktoalotofstrangersinyourtime.Idon’tknowanyquickerwaytosoftenastrangerdownthantoofferhimasmoke,oreventoaskhimforone.Andlotsofguysfeelinsultediftheyofferyouacigaretteandyoudon’ttakeit.Youbetterstart."

           "IguessIwill,"saidJim."Iusedtosmokewiththekids.Iwonderifit’dmakemesicknow."

           "Tryit.Here,I’llrolloneforyou."

           Jimtookthecigaretteandlightedit."Ittastesprettygood,"hesaid."I’dalmostforgottenwhatittastedlike."

           "Well,evenifyoudon’tlikeit,it’sagoodthingtodoinourwork.It’stheonelittlesocialthingguysinourconditionhave.Listen,there’satraincoming."Hestoodup."Itlookslikeafreight,too."

           Thetraincameslowlydownthetrack."Well,forChrist’sake!"Maccried."Eighty-seven!It’sourowntrain.Theytoldmeintownthattrainwentonsouth.Itmustofjustdroppedoffafewcarsandthencomerightout."

           "Let’sgetouroldcarback,"saidJim."Ilikedthatcar."

           Asitcameabreast,theyhoppedaboardthebox-caragain.Macsettledintohispileofpapers."Wemightjustaswellhavestayedasleep."

           Jimsatinthedoorwayagain,whilethetraincreptintotheroundbrownhills,andthroughtwoshorttunnels.