Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           IsupposetheroadDOEShavehardtimes,maybe.Everybodydoes—ofcourse.Ididn’tmeanthatexactly.Ibelieveinbeingjustandfairtoeverybody.Imeanthatwe’vegottousetheirlinesandpaytheirchargesgoodyearsANDbadyears,theP.andS.W.beingtheonlyroadintheState.Thatis—well,whenIsaytheonlyroad—no,Iwon’tsaytheONLYroad.Ofcoursethereareotherroads.There’stheD.P.andM.andtheSanFranciscoandNorthPacific,thatrunsuptoUkiah.Igotabrother-in-lawinUkiah.That’snotmuchofawheatcountryroundUkiahthoughtheyDOgrowSOMEwheatthere,cometothink.ButIguessit’stoofarnorth.Well,ofcoursethereisn’tMUCH.Perhapssixtythousandacresinthewholecounty—ifyouincludebarleyandoats.Idon’tknow;maybeit’snearerfortythousand.Idon’trememberverywell.That’sagoodmanyyearsago.I——”

           ButAnnixter,attheendofallpatience,turnedtoGenslinger,cuttingshorttheoldman:

           “Oh,rot!Ofcoursetherailroadwillsellattwo-fifty,”hecried.“We’vegotthecontracts.”

           “Looktothem,then,Mr.Annixter,”retortedGenslingersignificantly,“looktothem.Besurethatyouareprotected.”

           SoonafterthisGenslingertookhimselfaway,andDerrick’sChinamancameintosetthetable.

           “Whatdoyousupposehemeant?”askedBroderson,whenGenslingerwasgone.

           “Aboutthislandbusiness?”saidAnnixter.“Oh,Idon’tknow.Sometomfoolidea.Haven’twegottheirtermsprintedinblackandwhiteintheircirculars?There’stheirpledge.