И проиграли бой
Chapter 1
Iwasouttoapictureshowonenight,andcominghomeIsawacrowdinLincolnSquare.Istoppedtoseewhatitwasallabout.Therewasaguyinthemiddleoftheparktalking.IclimbeduponthepedestalofthatstatueofSenatorMorgansoIcouldseebetter.AndthenIheardthesirens.Iwaswatchingtheriotsquadcomeinfromtheotherside.Well,asquadcameupfrombehind,too.Copsluggedmefrombehind,rightinthebackoftheneck.WhenIcametoIwasalreadybookedforvagrancy.Iwasrum-dumforalongtime.Gothitrighthere."Jimputhisfingersonthebackofhisneckatthebaseofhisskull."Well,Itold’emIwasn’tavagrantandhadajob,andtold’emtocallupMr.Webb,he’smanageratTulman’s.Sotheydid.WebbaskedwhereIwaspickedup,andthesergeantsaid‘ataradicalmeeting,’andthenWebbsaidheneverheardofme.SoIgottherap."
Nilsonpluggedinthehotplateagain.Thecoffeestartedrumblinginthepot."Youlookhalfdrunk,Jim.What’sthematterwithyou?"
"Idon’tknow.Ifeeldead.Everythinginthepastisgone.IcheckedoutofmyroominghousebeforeIcamehere.Istillhadaweekpaidfor.Idon’twanttogobacktoanyofitagain.Iwanttobefinishedwithit."
Nilsonpouredthecoffeecupsfull."Look,Jim,Iwanttogiveyouapictureofwhatit’sliketobeaPartymember.You’llgetachancetovoteoneverydecision,butoncethevote’sin,you’llhavetoobey.Whenwehavemoneywetrytogivefieldworkerstwentydollarsamonthtoeaton.Idon’trememberatimewhenweeverhadthemoney.Nowlistentothework:Inthefieldyou’llhavetoworkalongsidethemen,andyou’llhavetodothePartyworkafterthat,sometimessixteen,eighteenhoursaday.You’llhavetogetyourfoodwhereyoucan.Doyouthinkyoucoulddothat?"
"Yes."
