On His Own: The Battler Summary

Nick has just been punched by a brakeman on a passing train. It is not clear when this story takes place in relation to the previous one. Bruised and cut up, he walks towards a fire he sees burning in the forest nearby and finds a somewhat deranged and disfigured little man who used to be a famous boxer, named Ad Francis. After remarking on Nick's developing black eye, Ad tries to convince Nick that he's crazy and then shows off various physical oddities about himself, such as his missing ear and slow heart rate. Ad's friend, Bugs, a black man, then arrives and the three have dinner together. When Nick will not give Ad his knife—on Bugs' advice—Ad gets angry and is about to fight Nick, but Bugs knocks him...