И проиграли бой

           Jimsaid,"HowdoIknowyouwon’tdouble-crossme?MaybeIfindsomethingoutandtellyou.IfthemeneverfoundItoldyou,they’dskinme."

           "Don’tyouworryaboutthat,Nolan.Ifthe‘super’cangetagoodmanlikeyou,hewon’tthrowhimover.Theremightbeasteadyjobhereforyouwhenthepicking’sover,runningapumporsomething."

           Jimthoughtforamoment."Idon’tpromiseanything,"hesaid."I’llkeepmyearsopen,andifIfindanything,I’llletyouknow."

           "Goodboy.There’sfiveinit,andajob."

           "I’lltrythattoughkid,"Jimsaid."Heseemedtoknowsomething."Hewalkeddowntherowtowardthefourthtree.Justashereachedittheboycamedowntheladderwithafullbucket.

           "Hi,"hesaid."I’lldumptheseandbeback."

           Jimwentuptheladderandsatdownonalimb.Themutteringofasortingbeltatthepacking-plantblewclearlyonthewind,andthesmelloffreshcidercamefromthepresses.FromalongwayoffJimcouldhearthehissandbarkofaswitch-enginemakingupatrain.

           Thesullenboycamerunninguptheladderlikeamonkey.Hesaidangrily,"WhenwegetdowntobusinessI’mgonnagetmeanicebigrock,andI’mgonnasockthatbastard."

           JimusedMac’smethod."Aniceguylikethat?Whatyouwanttohurthimfor?Whatdoyoumean‘whenwegetdowntobusiness’?"Theboysquatteddownbesidehim."Ain’tyouheard?""Heardwhat?""Youain’tarat?""No,Iwon’trat."Theboycried,"We’regoin’tostrike,that’swhat!""Strike?Withnicejobs?Whatyouwanttostrikefor?"