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           Hishandswerehard,withbroadfingersandnailsasthickandridgedaslittleclamshells.Thespacebetweenthumbandforefingerandthehamsofhishandswereshinywithcallus.

           Theman’sclotheswerenew—allofthem,cheapandnew.Hisgraycapwassonewthatthevisorwasstillstiffandthebuttonstillon,notshapelessandbulgedasitwouldbewhenithadservedforawhileallthevariouspurposesofacap—carryingsack,towel,handkerchief.Hissuitwasofcheapgrayhardclothandsonewthattherewerecreasesinthetrousers.Hisbluechambrayshirtwasstiffandsmoothwithfiller.Thecoatwastoobig,thetrouserstooshort,forhewasatallman.Thecoatshoulderpeakshungdownonhisarms,andeventhenthesleevesweretooshortandthefrontofthecoatflappedlooselyoverhisstomach.Heworeapairofnewtanshoesofthekindcalled«armylast,"hob-nailedandwithhalf-circleslikehorseshoestoprotecttheedgesoftheheelsfromwear.Thismansatontherunningboardandtookoffhiscapandmoppedhisfacewithit.Thenheputonthecap,andbypullingstartedthefutureruinofthevisor.Hisfeetcaughthisattention.Heleaneddownandloosenedtheshoelaces,anddidnottietheendsagain.OverhisheadtheexhaustoftheDieselenginewhisperedinquickpuffsofbluesmoke.

           Themusicstoppedintherestaurantandaman’svoicespokefromtheloudspeaker,butthewaitressdidnotturnhimoff,forshedidn’tknowthemusichadstopped.Herexploringfingershadfoundalumpunderherear.Shewastryingtoseeitinamirrorbehindthecounterwithoutlettingthetruckdriverknow,andsoshepretendedtopushabitofhairtoneatness.Thetruckdriversaid,«TheywasabigdanceinShawnee.Iheardsomebodygotkilledorsomepin.Youhearanything?»