Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter II
“YOUwouldn’tliketobeturnedoutofyourhome,wouldyou,MissHilma,becauseQuienSabeisyourhomeisn’tit?You’velivedhereeversinceyouwereasbigasaminute.Youwouldn’tliketohaveS.Behrmanandtherestof’emturnyouout?”
“N-no,”shemurmured.“No,Ishouldn’tlikethat.There’smammaand——”
“Well,doyouthinkforonesecondI’mgoingtolet’em?”criedAnnixter,histeethtighteningonhiscigar.“Youstayrightwhereyouare.I’lltakecareofyou,rightenough.Lookhere,”hedemandedabruptly,“you’venouseforthatroaringlush,Delaney,haveyou?”“Ithinkheisawickedman,”shedeclared.“IknowtheRailroadhaspretendedtosellhimpartoftheranch,andheletsMr.S.BehrmanandMr.Rugglesjustusehim.”
“Right.Ithoughtyouwouldn’tbekeenonhim.”
Therewasalongpause.Thebuckskinbeganblowingamongthepebbles,nosingforgrass,andAnnixtershiftedhiscigartotheothercornerofhismouth.
“Prettyplace,”hemuttered,lookingaroundhim.Thenheadded:“MissHilma,seehere,Iwanttohaveakindoftalkwithyou,ifyoudon’tmind.Idon’tknowjusthowtosaythesesortofthings,andifIgetallballedupasIgoalong,youjustsetitdowntothefactthatI’veneverhadanyexperienceindealingwithfeemalegirls;understand?Yousee,eversincethebarndance—yes,andlongbeforethen—I’vebeenthinkingalotaboutyou.Straight,Ihave,andIguessyouknowit.
