Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VI
Wasitpossible,wasitwithintheboundsofimaginationthatthistyrannyshouldbecontemplated?Buttheyknew—pastyearshaddrivenhomethelesson—theimplacable,ironmonsterwithwhomtheyhadtodeal,andagainandagainthesenseofoutrageandoppressionlashedthemtotheirfeet,theirmouthswidewithcurses,theirfistsclenchedtight,theirthroatshoarsewithshouting.
“Fight!Howfight?WhatAREyougoingtodo?”
“Ifthere’salawinthisland”
“Ifthereis,itisinShelgrim’spocket.WhoownsthecourtsinCalifornia?Ain’titShelgrim?”
“Goddamnhim.”
“Well,howlongareyougoingtostandit?Howlongbeforeyou’llsettleupaccountswithsixinchesofpluggedgas-pipe?”
“Andourcontracts,thesolemnpledgesofthecorporationtoselltousfirstofall——”
“Andnowthelandisforsaletoanybody.”
“Why,itisaquestionofmyhome.AmItobeturnedout?Why,Ihaveputeightthousanddollarsintoimprovingthisland.”
“AndIsixthousand,andnowthatIhave,theRailroadgrabsit.”
“AndthesystemofirrigatingditchesthatDerrickandIhavebeenlayingout.There’sthousandsofdollarsinthat!”
“I’llfightthisouttillI’vespenteverycentofmymoney.”
“Where?Inthecourtsthatthecompanyowns?”
“ThinkIamgoingtogiveintothis?ThinkIamtogetoffmyland?ByGod,gentlemen,lawornolaw,railroadornorailroad,I—WILL—NOT.”
“NorI.”
“NorI.”
“NorI.”
“Thisisthelast.Legalmeansfirst;ifthosefail—theshotgun.”
“Theycankillme.
