Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter III
Nooneinthegroupwhowasnotfamiliarwithit;noone,forthatmatter,inthecounty,theState,thewholereachoftheWest,theentireUnion,thatdidnotentertainconvictionsastothemanwhocarriedit;agiantfigureintheend-of-the-centuryfinance,aproductofcircumstance,aninevitableresultofconditions,characteristic,typical,symbolicofungovernableforces.IntheNewMovement,theNewFinance,thereorganisationofcapital,theamalgamationofpowers,theconsolidationofenormousenterprises—nooneindividualwasmoreconstantlyintheeyeoftheworld;noonewasmorehated,moredreaded,noonemorecompellingofunwillingtributetohiscommandinggenius,tothecolossalintellectoperatingthewidthofanentirecontinentthanthepresidentandownerofthePacificandSouthwestern.
“Idon’tthink,however,hehasmovedyet,”saidMagnus.
“Thethingforus,then,”exclaimedOsterman,“istostandfromunderbeforehedoes.”
“Movedyet!”snortedAnnixter.“He’sprobablymovedsolongagothatwe’venevernoticedit.”
“Inanycase,”hazardedMagnus,“itisscarcelyprobablethatthedeal—whateveritistobe—hasbeenconsummated.Ifweactquickly,theremaybeachance.”
“Actquickly!How?”demandedAnnixter.“GoodLord!whatcanyoudo?We’recinchedalready.Itallamountstojustthis:YOUCAN’TBUCKAGAINSTTHERAILROAD.We’vetrieditandtriedit,andwearestuckeverytime.You,yourself,Derrick,havejustlostyourgrain-ratecase.S.Behrmandidyouup.Shelgrimownsthecourts.He’sgotmenlikeUlsteeninhispocket.
