И проиграли бой

           Thewindhadfallennow,sothatthewarmthofthesunshinegotthrough.AsJimapproached,Macdetachedhimselffromthegroupandcametowardhimcarryingtwopaper-wrappedparcels."Hi,Jim,"hesaid."Here’slunch,frenchbreadandsomeslicedham."

           "Swell.I’mhungry."

           Macobserved,"Moreofourmengooutwithstomachulcersthanwithfiringsquads.How’rethingsoutyourway?"

           "Buzzing,"saidJim."Buzzingtobeathell.Imetakidwhoknowsallaboutit.There’sgoingtobeameetingofthebigguystonight."

           Maclaughed."That’sgood.Iwonderedwhetherthemenwithsecretknowledgehadgotworkingyet.Theycandousalotofgood.Menoutyourwaygettingmad?"

           "They’retalkingalot,anyway.Oh,say,Mac,thechecker’sgoingtogivemefivebucksandapermanentjobifIfindoutwhat’sgoingon.ItoldhimI’dkeepmyearsopen."

           "Nicework,"saidMac."Maybeyoucanmakealittlemoneyontheside."

           "Well,whatdoyouwantmetotellhim?"

           "Well,let’ssee—tellhimit’sjustasplash,andit’llblowover.Tellhimit’snothingtogetexcitedabout."

           Heswunghishead.Amanhadapproachedquietly,aheavymandressedindirtyoveralls,withafacenearlyblackwithdirt.Hecamecloseandglancedabouttoseethattheywerealone.

           "Thecommitteesentmedown,"hesaidsoftly."How’rethingsgoing?"