И проиграли бой

           Probablyeatbothjarstonightandbesicktomorrow.Theygetawfulhungryforsomethingnice.Evernoticewhenyou’rehungry,Jim,yourmindfastensonjustonething?It’salwaysmashedpotatoeswithme,justslimywithmeltedbutter.Is’posethisguytonighthadbeenthinkingaboutmince-meatformonths."Alongthefrontofthebuildingabigmanmoved,andthelightsfromthewindowsflashedonhimashepassedeachone."HerecomesLondon,"Macsaid.

           Hestrodeuptothem,swinginghisshoulders.Thetonsureshowedwhiteagainsttheblackrimofhair."Ifinishedeatin’,"Londonsaid."Let’sgetgoin’.MyFord’saroundback."Heturnedandwalkedinthedirectionfromwhichhehadcome;MacandJimfollowedhim.BehindthebuildingatoplessmodelTFordtouringcarstoodnosedinagainstthebuilding.Theoilclothseatswerefrayedandsplit,sothatthecoilspringstuckthrough,andwadsofhorsehairhungfromtheholes.Londongotinandturnedthekey.Theraspofthepointssounded.

           "Crank’er,Jim,"saidMac.

           Jimputhisweightonthestiffcrank."Sparkdown?Idon’twantmyheadkickedoff."

           "She’sdown.Pulloutthechokeinfrontthere,"saidLondon.

           Thegaswheezedin.Jimspunthecrank.Theenginechokedandthecrankkickedviciouslybackward."Nearlygotme!Keepthatsparkdown!"

           "Shealwayskicksalittle,"saidLondon."Don’tgivehernomorechoke."

           Jimspunthecrankagain.Theengineroared.Thelittledimlightscameon.Jimclimbedintothebackseatamongoldtubesandtire-ironsandgunnysacks.