Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           HowhadheeverimaginedtheRoadwouldpermithimtomakeanymoney?

           Angerwasnotinhimyet;norousingoftheblind,white-hotwraththatleapstotheattackwithprehensilefingers,movedhim.Theblowmerelycrushed,staggered,confused.

           Hesteppedasidetogiveplacetoacoatlessmaninapinkshirt,whoentered,carryinginhishandsanautomaticdoor-closingapparatus.

           “Wheredoesthisgo?”inquiredtheman.

           Dykesatdownforamomentonaseatthathadbeenremovedfromaworn-outrailwaycartododutyinRuggles’soffice.Onthebackofayellowenvelopehemadesomevaguefigureswithastumpofbluepencil,multiplying,subtracting,perplexinghimselfwithmanyerrors.

           S.Behrman,theclerk,andthemanwiththedoor-closingapparatusinvolvedthemselvesinalongargument,gazingintentlyatthetoppanelofthedoor.Themanwhohadcometofixtheapparatuswasunwillingtoguaranteeit,unlessasignwasputontheoutsideofthedoor,warningincomersthatthedoorwasself-closing.Thissignwouldcostfifteencentsextra.

           “Butyoudidn’tsayanythingaboutthiswhenthethingwasordered,”declaredS.Behrman.“No,Iwon’tpayit,myfriend.It’sanovercharge.”

           “Youneedn’tthink,”observedtheclerk,“thatjustbecauseyouaredealingwiththeRailroadyouaregoingtoworkus.”

           Genslingercamein,accompaniedbyDelaney.S.Behrmanandtheclerk,abruptlydismissingthemanwiththedoor-closingmachine,putthemselvesbehindthecounterandengagedinconversationwiththesetwo.GenslingerintroducedDelaney.