И проиграли бой

           ThelightofreminiscencewentoutofoldDan’seyes.Hisscragglychinthrustforward."Istillcanout-workabunchoflousypunksthatspendstheirtimetalkin’."Hereachedindignantlyfortheapples,fumblingoverhishead.Onebig,bonyhandclungtoabranch.

           Jimwatchedhimwithamusement."You’rejustshowingoff,Pop."

           "ThinkIam?Well,tryan’keepupwithme,then."

           "What’stheuseofyouan’meracing,andthentheorchardowner’stheonlyonethatmakesanything?"

           OldDanpiledapplesintohisbucket."Youpunksgotsomethingtolearnyet.There’smoretoworkthanyoueverknew.Likeabunchofhorses—youwantmorehay!Whiningaroundformorehay.Wantallthehaythereis!Youmakeagoodmansick,that’swhatyoudo,whiningaround."Hisbucketwasover-full.Whenhelifteditclearofthehook,fiveorsixfatapplesrolledoutandbouncedonthelimbsandstruckthegroundunderthetree."Getouto’myway,punk,"Dancried."Goon,getouto’thewayo’thatladder."

           "O.K.,Pop,buttakeyourtime.Youwon’tgetathingforrushing."Jimsteppedclearoftheladder-topandclimbedoutalimb.Hehunghisbucketandreachedforanapple.Behindhimheheardasplinteringcrashandasullenthump.Helookedaround.OldDanlayonhisbackonthegroundunderthetree.Hisopeneyeslookedstunned.Hisfacewasbluepaleunderthewhitestubble.Tworungswerestrippedoutoftheladder.

           Jimcried,"Thatwasafall!Hurtyourself,Pop?"

           Theoldmanlaystill.Hiseyeswerefullofaperplexedquestion.Hismouthwrithed,andhelickedhislips.