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Chapter 24
Hustonputaflashlightbeamineachsullenface.«Whatdidyouwantadoitfor?»heasked.Therewasnoanswer.«Whothehelltol’youtodoit?»
«Goddarnit,wedidn’donothing.Wewasjes’gonnadance.»
«No,youwasn’t,"Julesaid.«Youwasgonnasockthatkid.»
Tomsaid,«Mr.Huston,jus’whentheseherefellasmovedin,somebodygiveawhistle.»
«Yeah,Iknow!Thecopscomerighttothegate.»Heturnedback.«Weain’tgonnahurtyou.Nowwhotol’youtocomebus’upourdance?»Hewaitedforareply.«You’reourownfolks,"Hustonsaidsadly.«Youbelongwithus.How’dyouhappentocome?Weknowallaboutit,"headded.
«Well,goddamnit,afellagottoeat.»
«Well,whosentyou?Whopaidyoutocome?»
«Weain’tbeenpaid.»
«An’youain’tgonnabe.Nofight,nopay.Ain’tthatright?»Oneofthepinionedmensaid,«Dowhatyouwant.Weain’tgonnatellnothing.»
Huston’sheadsankdownforamoment,andthenhesaidsoftly,«O.K.Don’ttell.Butlookahere.Don’tknifeyourownfolks.We’retryin’togetalong,havin’funan’keepin’order.Don’ttearallthatdown.Jes’thinkaboutit.You’rejes’harmin’yourself.
«Awright,boys,put’emoverthebackfence.An’don’thurt’em.Theydon’tknowwhatthey’redoin’.»Thesquadmovedslowlytowardtherearofthecamp,andHustonlookedafterthem.Julesaid,«Le’sjes’takeonegoodkickat’em.»
«No,youdon’t!»Williecried.«Isaidwewouldn’.»
«Jes’onenicelittlekick,"Julepleaded.
