И проиграли бой

           Londonsaid,"Wejustcometoseesomefriendsofours.We’reworkin’ontheTalbotplace."

           "Notbringinginliquortosell?"

           "Surenot."Themanflashedalightintothebackofthecarandlookedatthelitterofironandoldinnertubes.Thelightsnappedoff."O.K.,boys.Don’tstaytoolong."

           Londonpusheddownthepedal."Thatsmartson-of-a-bitch,"hegrowled."Thereain’tnonoseycopslikeprivatecops.Busylittlerat."Heswungthecarsavagelyaroundaturnandbroughtittoastopbehindabuildingveryliketheonefromwhichtheyhadcome,along,low,shed-likestructure,partitionedintolittlerooms.Londonsaid,"They’reworkin’ahellofabigcrewhere.Theygotthreebunkhouseslikethisone."Hewalkedtothefirstdoorandknocked.Agruntcamefrominside,andheavysteps.Thedooropenedalittle.Afatwomanwithstringyhairlookedout.Londonsaidgruffly,"Where’sDakinputtin’up?"

           Thewomanreactedinstantlytotheauthorityofhisvoice."He’sthethirddoordown,mister,himandhiswifeandacoupleofkids."

           Londonsaid,"Thanks,"andturnedaway,leavingthewomanwithhermouthopentogoontalking.ShestuckoutherheadandwatchedthethreemenwhileLondonknockedonthethirddoor.Shedidn’tgoinsideuntilDakin’sdoorwasclosedagain.

           "Whowasit?"amanaskedfrombehindher.

           "Idon’tknow,"shesaid."Abigguy.HewantedDakin."

           Dakinwasathin-facedmanwithveiled,watchfuleyesandanimmobilemouth.Hisvoicewasasharpmonotone.