Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Asenseofimpendingcalamity,oppressive,foreboding,gloomy,passedthroughtheairoverheadinthenight,alongshiverofanguishandofterror,mysterious,despairing.

           Intheharnessroom,however,theexcitementcontinuedunchecked.Onerancherafteranotherdeliveredhimselfofatorrentoffuriouswords.Therewasnoorder,merelythefrenziedoutcryofblindfury.Onespiritalonewascommontoall—resistanceatwhatevercostandtowhateverlengths.

           SuddenlyOstermanleapedtohisfeet,hisbaldheadgleaminginthelamp-light,hisredearsdistended,afloodofwordsfillinghisgreat,horizontalslitofamouth,hiscomicactor’sfaceflaming.Liketheheroofamelodrama,hetookstagewithagreatsweepinggesture.

           “ORGANISATION,”heshouted,“thatmustbeourwatch-word.Thecurseoftheranchersisthattheyfritterawaytheirstrength.Now,wemuststandtogether,now,NOW.Here’sthecrisis,here’sthemoment.Shallwemeetit?ICALLFORTHELEAGUE.Notnextweek,notto-morrow,notinthemorning,butnow,now,now,thisverymoment,beforewegooutofthatdoor.Everyoneofusheretojoinit,toformthebeginningsofavastorganisation,bandedtogethertodeath,ifneedsbe,fortheprotectionofourrightsandhomes.Areyouready?Isitnowornever?IcallfortheLeague.”

           Instantlytherewasashout.Withanactor’sinstinct,Ostermanhadspokenattheprecisepsychologicalmoment.Hecarriedtheothersofftheirfeet,glib,dexterous,voluble.JustwhatwasmeantbytheLeaguetheothersdidnotknow,butitwassomething,avagueengine,amachinewithwhichtofight.