И проиграли бой

           Nilsontouchedthedeskhereandtherewithhisfingertips."Eventhepeopleyou’retryingtohelpwillhateyoumostofthetime.Doyouknowthat?"

           "Yes."

           "Well,whydoyouwanttojoin,then?"

           Jim’sgreyeyeshalfclosedinperplexity.Atlasthesaid,"InthejailthereweresomePartymen.Theytalkedtome.Everything’sbeenamess,allmylife.Theirlivesweren’tmesses.Theywereworkingtowardsomething.Iwanttoworktowardsomething.Ifeeldead.IthoughtImightgetaliveagain."

           Nilsonnodded."Isee.You’reGod-damnrightIsee.Howlongdidyougotoschool?"

           "Secondyearinhigh-school.ThenIwenttowork."

           "Butyoutalkasthoughyouhadmoreschoolthanthat."

           Jimsmiled."I’vereadalot.Myoldmandidn’twantmetoread.HesaidI’ddesertmyownpeople.ButIreadanyway.OnedayImetamaninthepark.Hemadelistsofthingsformetoread.Oh,I’vereadahellofalot.HemadelistslikePlato’sRepublic,andtheUtopia,andBellamy,andlikeHerodotusandGibbonandMacaulayandCarlyleandPrescott,andlikeSpinozaandHegelandKantandNietzscheandSchopenhauer.HeevenmademereadDasKapital.2Hewasacrank,hesaid.Hesaidhewantedtoknowthingswithoutbelievingthem.Helikedtogroupbooksthatallaimedinthesamedirection."

           HarryNilsonwasquietforawhile.Thenhesaid,"Youseewhywehavetobesocareful.