Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VI
Asenseofgayetybegantospreadthroughouttheassembly.Ateverymomentthecrowdincreased.Thearomaofnew-sawntimberandsawdustbegantobemingledwiththefeminineodourofsachetandflowers.Therewasababeloftalkintheair—malebaritoneandsopranochatter—variedbyanoccasionalnoteoflaughterandtheswishofstifflystarchedpetticoats.Ontherowofchairsthatwentaroundthreesidesofthewallgroupsbegantosettlethemselves.Foralongtimetheguestshuddledclosetothedoorway;thelowerendofthefloorwascrowded!theupperenddeserted;butbydegreesthelinesofwhitemuslinandpinkandbluesateenextended,dottedwiththedarkerfiguresofmeninblacksuits.Theconversationgrewlouderasthetimidityoftheearlymomentsworeoff.Groupsatadistancecalledbackandforth;conversationswerecarriedonattopvoice.Once,evenawholepartyhurriedacrossthefloorfromonesideofthebarntotheother.
Annixteremergedfromtheharnessroom,hisfaceredwithwrangling.Hetookapositiontotherightofthedoor,shakinghandswithnewcomers,invitingthemoverandoveragaintocutlooseandwhoopitalong.Intotheearsofhismoreintimatemaleacquaintanceshedroppedawordastopunchandcigarsintheharnessroomlateron,winkingwithvastintelligence.
