Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter I
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“IsupposeMagnusthinksthelandhashadrestenoughtheselasttwodryseasons,”observedPresley.“Hehasraisednocroptospeakoffortwoyears.Thelandhashadagoodrest.”
“Ah,yes,thatsoundswell,”Annixtercontradicted,unwillingtobeconvinced.“Inaway,theland’sbeenrested,andthen,again,inaway,ithasn’t.”
ButPresley,scentinganargument,refrainedfromanswering,andbethoughthimselfofmovingon.
“I’mgoingtoleavemywheelhereforawhile,Buck,”hesaid,“ifyoudon’tmind.I’mgoinguptothespring,andtheroadisroughbetweenhereandthere.”
“Stopinfordinneronyourwayback,”saidAnnixter.“There’llbeavenisonsteak.Oneoftheboysgotadeeroverinthefoothillslastweek.Outofseason,butnevermindthat.Ican’teatit.Thisstomachofminewouldn’tdigestsweetoilto-day.Gethereaboutsix.”
“Well,maybeIwill,thankyou,”saidPresley,movingoff.“Bytheway,”headded,“Iseeyourbarnisaboutdone.”
“Youbet,”answeredAnnixter.“Inaboutafortnightnowshe’llbeallready.”
“It’sabigbarn,”murmuredPresley,glancingaroundtheangleofthehousetowardwherethegreatstructurestood.
“Guesswe’llhavetohaveadancetherebeforewemovethestockin,”observedAnnixter.“That’sthecustomallaroundhere.”
Presleytookhimselfoff,butatthegateAnnixtercalledafterhim,hismouthfullofprunes,“Say,takealookatthatherdofsheepasyougoup.Theyarerightoffheretotheeastoftheroad,abouthalfamilefromhere.
