Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           “Whythedevilareyousochummywithhim,then?”observedHarranwhenHartrathhadgoneaway.

           Lyman’sexplanationwasvague.Thetruthofthematterwas,thatMagnus’soldestsonwasconsumedbyinordinateambition.Politicalprefermentwashisdream,andtotherealisationofthisdreampopularitywasanessential.Everymanwhocouldvote,blackguardorgentleman,wastobeconciliated,ifpossible.Hemadeithisstudytobecomeknownthroughouttheentirecommunity—toputinfluentialmenunderobligationstohimself.Heneverforgotanameoraface.Witheverybodyhewasthehail-fellow-well-met.Hisambitionwasnottrivial.Inhisdisregardforsmallthings,heresembledhisfather.Municipalofficehadnoattractionforhim.Hisgoalwashigher.Hehadplannedhislifetwentyyearsahead.AlreadySheriff’sAttorney,AssistantDistrictAttorneyandRailroadCommissioner,hecould,ifhedesired,attaintheofficeofDistrictAttorneyitself.Justnow,itwasaquestionwithhimwhetherornotitwouldbepolitictofillthisoffice.Woulditadvanceorsidetrackhiminthecareerhehadoutlinedforhimself?LymanwantedtobesomethingbetterthanDistrictAttorney,betterthanMayor,thanStateSenator,oreventhanmemberoftheUnitedStatesCongress.Hewantedtobe,infact,whathisfatherwasonlyinname—tosucceedwhereMagnushadfailed.HewantedtobegovernoroftheState.Hehadputhisteethtogether,and,deaftoallotherconsiderations,blindtoallotherissues,heworkedwiththeinfiniteslowness,theunshakabletenacityofthecoralinsecttothisoneend.