Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Ashestoodforamomentatthecounterinfrontofthewirepartition,waitingfortheclerktomakeouttheorderforthefreightagentatthedepot,DykewassurprisedtoseeafamiliarfigureinconferencewithRuggleshimself,byadeskinsidetherailing.

           Thefigurewasthatofamiddle-agedman,fat,withagreatstomach,whichhestrokedfromtimetotime.Asheturnedabout,addressingaremarktotheclerk,DykerecognisedS.Behrman.Thebanker,railroadagent,andpoliticalmanipulatorseemedtotheex-engineer’seyestobemoregrossthanever.Hissmooth-shavenjowlstoodoutbigandtremulousoneithersideofhisface;therolloffatonthenapeofhisneck,sprinkledwithsparse,stiffhairs,bulgedoutwithgreaterprominence.Hisgreatstomach,coveredwithalightbrownlinenvest,stampedwithinnumerableinterlockedhorseshoes,protrudedfarinadvance,enormous,aggressive.Heworehisinevitableround-toppedhatofstiffbrownstraw,varnishedsobrightthatitreflectedthelightoftheofficewindowslikeahelmet,andevenfromwherehestoodDykecouldhearhisloudbreathingandtheclinkofthehollowlinksofhiswatchchainuponthevestbuttonsofimitationpearl,ashisstomachroseandfell.

           Dykelookedathimwithattention.Therewastheenemy,therepresentativeoftheTrustwithwhichDerrick’sLeaguewaslockinghorns.Thegreatstrugglehadbeguntoinvestthecombatantswithinterest.Daily,almosthourly,Dykewasintouchwiththeranchers,thewheat-growers.Heheardtheirdenunciations,theirgrowlsofexasperationanddefiance.