И проиграли бой

           Lean-facescoffed."Theywon’thavenocroptrampsinthecountyhospital.Don’tyouknowthat?Theygotnoroom.Alwaysfull-up."

           "Iknowit,"saidMac."Ijustwonderedifyoudid."

           Jimshiveredandpickedupalittlewillowstickandthrusttheendintothecoalsuntilitflaredintoflame.Mac’shandcamestealingoutofthedarknessandtookhisarmforamoment,andgrippedit.

           Macasked,"Theygotanybodythatknowsanythingaboutit?"

           "Gotanoldwoman,"Lean-facesaid.Hiseyesturnedsuspiciousunderthequestioning."Say,what’sittoyou?"

           "Ihadsometraining,"Macexplainedcasually."Iknowsomethingaboutit.ThoughtImighthelpout."

           "Well,goseeLondon."Lean-faceshuckedoffresponsibility."Itain’tnoneofourbusinesstoanswerquestionsabouthim."

           Macignoredthesuspicion."GuessIwill."Hestoodup."Comeon,Jim.IsLondoninthattentwiththelight?"

           "Yeah,that’shim."

           AcircleoflightedfaceswatchedJimandMacwalkaway,andthentheheadsswungbacktothefireagain.Thetwomenpickedtheirwayacrosstheclearing,avoidingthebundlesofcloththatweresleepingmen.

           Macwhispered,"Whatabreak!IfIcanpullitoff,we’restarted."

           "Whatdoyoumean?Mac,Ididn’tknowyouhadmedicaltraining."