И проиграли бой
Chapter 1
Jimpulledtheextrachaircloseandsatdownbythedesk.Harryopenedadeskdrawer,tookoutanopencanofmilk,theholespluggedwithmatches,acupofsugarandtwothickmugs."Willyouhaveacupofcoffee?"
"Sure,"saidJim.
Nilsonpouredtheblackcoffeeintothemugs.Hesaid,"Nowhere’sthewayweworkonapplications,Jim.Yourcardwentintothemembershipcommittee.Ihavetotalktoyouandmakeareport.Thecommitteepassesonthereportandthenthemembershipvotesonyou.Soyousee,ifIquestionyouprettydeep,Ijusthaveto."Hepouredmilkintohiscoffee,andthenhelookedup,andhiseyessmiledforasecond.
"Sure,Iknow,"saidJim."I’veheardyou’remoreselectthantheUnionLeagueClub."1
"ByGod,wehavetobe!"HeshovedthesugarbowlatJim,thensuddenly,"WhydoyouwanttojointheParty?"
Jimstirredhiscoffee.Hisfacewrinkledupinconcentration.Helookeddownintohislap."Well—Icouldgiveyoualotoflittlereasons.Mainly,it’sthis:Mywholefamilyhasbeenruinedbythissystem.Myoldman,myfather,wassluggedsomuchinlabortroublethathewentpunch-drunk.Hegotanideathathe’dliketodynamiteaslaughter-housewhereheusedtowork.Well,hecaughtachargeofbuckshotinthechestfromariotgun."
Harryinterrupted,"WasyourfatherRoyNolan?"
"Yeah.Killedthreeyearsago."
"Jesus!"Harrysaid."Hehadareputationforbeingthetoughestmuginthecountry.I’veheardhecouldlickfivecopswithhisbarehands."
