Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter IV
Iguessyouknowthat,don’tyou?Well,whatmoredoyouwanttoknow?Iain’tgottimetofoolaround.Theycutoffourexpresscarandhavecrackeditopen,andtheyshotoneofourtraincrew,that’sall,andIwantadoctor.”
“Didtheyshoothim—killhim,doyoumean?”
“Ishehurtbad?”
“Didthemengetaway?”
“Oh,shutup,willyouall?”exclaimedtheconductor.
“WhatdoIknow?IsthereaDOCTORinthiscar,that’swhatIwanttoknow?”
Thewell-dressedyoungmansteppedforward.
“I’madoctor,”hesaid.“Well,comealongthen,”returnedtheconductor,inasurlyvoice,“andthepassengersinthiscar,”headded,turningbackatthedoorandnoddinghisheadmenacingly,“willgobacktobedandSTAYthere.It’salloverandthere’snothingtosee.”
Hewentout,followedbytheyoungdoctor.
Thenensuedaninterminableperiodofsilence.Theentiretrainseemeddeserted.Helpless,bereftofitsengine,ahuge,decapitatedmonsteritlay,half-wayaroundacurve,rainedupon,abandoned.
Therewasmorefearinthislastconditionofaffairs,moreterrorintheideaofthisprolongedlineofsleepers,withtheirnickelledfittings,theirplateglass,theirupholstery,vestibules,andthelike,loadeddownwithpeople,lostandforgotteninthenightandtherain,thantherehadbeenwhentheactualdangerthreatened.
Whatwastobecomeofthemnow?Whowastheretohelpthem?Theirenginewasgone;theywerehelpless.Whatnextwastohappen?
Nobodycamenearthecar.Eventheporterhaddisappeared.
