Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           “Wh-a-a-t!”heexclaimed;“wh-a-a-tdidyousay?Why,Iguessyoumustbelookingfortrouble;that’swhatIguess.”

           “There’swhereyou’rewrong,m’son,”mutteredAnnixter,partlytoDelaney,partlytohimself.“IfIwaslookingfortroubletherewouldn’tbeanyguess-workaboutit.”

           Withthewordshebeganfiring.DelaneyhadhardlyenteredthebarnbeforeAnnixter’splanhadbeenformed.Longsincehisrevolverwasinthepocketofhiscoat,andhefirednowthroughthecoatitself,withoutwithdrawinghishands.

           UntilthatmomentAnnixterhadnotbeensureofhimself.Therewasnodoubtthatforthefirstfewmomentsoftheaffairhewouldhavewelcomedwithjoyanyreasonableexcuseforgettingoutofthesituation.Butthesoundofhisownrevolvergavehimconfidence.Hewhippeditfromhispocketandfiredagain.

           Abruptlytheduelbegan,reportfollowingreport,spurtsofpalebluesmokejettinglikethedartsofshortspearsbetweenthetwomen,expandingtoahazeanddriftingoverheadinwaveringstrata.ItwasquiteprobablethatnothoughtofkillingeachothersuggesteditselftoeitherAnnixterorDelaney.Bothfiredwithoutaimingverydeliberately.Toemptytheirrevolversandavoidbeinghitwasthedesirecommontoboth.Theynolongervituperatedeachother.Therevolversspokeforthem.

           Longafter,Annixtercouldrecallthismoment.