Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Inanothermomentheraisedhisheadandlookedfromfacetofacearoundthegroup.Afterall,thesewerehisneighbours,hisfriends,menwithwhomhehadbeenupontheclosesttermsofassociation.Inawaytheyrepresentedwhatnowhadcometobehisworld.Hissingleswiftglancetookinthemen,oneafteranother.Annixter,rugged,crude,sittingawkwardlyanduncomfortablyinhischair,hisunhandsomeface,withitsoutthrustlowerlipanddeeplycleftmasculinechin,flushedandeager,hisyellowhairdisordered,theonetuftonthecrownstandingstifflyforthlikethefeatherinanIndian’sscalplock;Broderson,vaguelycombingathislongbeardwithapersistentmaniacalgesture,distressed,troubledanduneasy;Osterman,withhiscomedyface,thefaceofamusic-hallsinger,hisheadbaldandsetoffbyhisgreatredears,leaningbackinhisplace,softlycrackingtheknuckleofaforefinger,and,lastofallandclosetohiselbow,hisson,hissupport,hisconfidantandcompanion,Harran,solikehimself,withhisownerect,finecarriage,histhin,beak-likenoseandhisblondhair,withitstendencytocurlinaforwarddirectioninfrontoftheears,young,strong,courageous,fullofthepromiseofthefutureyears.Hisblueeyeslookedstraightintohisfather’swithwhatMagnuscouldfancyaglanceofappeal.Magnuscouldseethatexpressioninthefacesoftheothersveryplainly.Theylookedtohimastheirnaturalleader,theirchiefwhowastobringthemoutfromthisabominabletroublewhichwasclosinginuponthem,andinthemallhesawmanytypes.