Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           PleaseunderstandthatItoleratesuchwordsasyouhavepermittedyourselftomakeuseoffromnoman,notevenfrommyguest.Ishallaskyoutoapologise.”

           Inaninstanthedominatedtheentiregroup,imposingarespectthatwasasmuchfearasadmiration.Noonemaderesponse.ForthemomenthewastheMasteragain,theLeader.Likesomanydelinquentschool-boys,theotherscoweredbeforehim,ashamed,puttoconfusion,unabletofindtheirtongues.InthatbriefinstantofsilencefollowinguponMagnus’soutburst,andwhileheheldthemsubduedandover-mastered,thefabricoftheirschemeofcorruptionanddishonestytrembledtoitsbase.ItwasthelastprotestoftheOldSchool,risingupthereindenunciationoftheneworderofthings,thestatesmanopposedtothepolitician;honesty,rectitude,uncompromisingintegrity,prevailingforthelasttimeagainstthedeviousmanoeuvring,theevilcommunications,therottenexpediencyofacorruptedinstitution.

           Forafewsecondsnooneanswered.Then,Annixter,movingabruptlyanduneasilyinhisplace,muttered:

           “Ispokeuponprovocation.Ifyoulike,we’llconsideritunsaid.Idon’tknowwhat’sgoingtobecomeofus—gooutofbusiness,Ipresume.”

           “IunderstandMagnusallright,”putinOsterman.“Hedon’thavetogointothisthing,ifit’sagainsthisconscience.That’sallright.Magnuscanstayoutifhewantsto,butthatwon’tpreventusgoingaheadandseeingwhatwecando.Onlythere’sthisaboutit.”HeturnedagaintoMagnus,speakingwitheverydegreeofearnestness,everyappearanceofconviction.