Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Foryearshecouldwithbutlittleeffortreconstructthescene—thedenselypackedcrowdflattenedagainstthesidesofthebarn,thefestoonsoflanterns,themingledsmellofevergreens,newwood,sachets,andpowdersmoke;thevagueclamourofdistressandterrorthatrosefromthethrongofguests,thesquealingofthebuckskin,theunevenexplosionsoftherevolvers,thereverberationoftramplinghoofs,abriefglimpseofHarranDerrick’sexcitedfaceatthedooroftheharnessroom,andintheopenspaceinthecentreofthefloor,himselfandDelaney,manoeuvringswiftlyinacloudofsmoke.

           Annixter’srevolvercontainedbutsixcartridges.Alreadyitseemedtohimasifhehadfiredtwentytimes.Withoutdoubtthenextshotwashislast.Thenwhat?Hepeeredthroughthebluehazethatwitheverydischargethickenedbetweenhimandthebuster.Forhisownsafetyhemust“place”atleastoneshot.Delaney’schestandshouldersrosesuddenlyabovethesmokecloseuponhimasthedistraughtbuckskinrearedagain.Annixter,forthefirsttimeduringthefight,tookdefiniteaim,butbeforehecoulddrawthetriggertherewasagreatshoutandhewasawareofthebuckskin,thebridletrailing,thesaddleempty,plungingheadlongacrossthefloor,crashingintothelineofchairs.Delaneywasscramblingoffthefloor.Therewasbloodonthebuster’swristandhenolongercarriedhisrevolver.Suddenlyheturnedandran.Thecrowdpartedrightandleftbeforehimashemadetowardthedoorway.Hedisappeared.