Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter V.
Fromawagon?No,horsesontherun,andtheirriderswerearmed!Hecouldcatchtheflashofgunbarrels.Theywereallclosinginonhim,convergingonGuadalajarabyeveryavailableroad.TheUpperRoadwestofGuadalajaraledstraighttoBonneville.Thatwaywasimpossible.Washeinatrap?Hadthetimeforfightingcomeatlast?
ButasDykenearedthedepotatGuadalajara,hiseyefelluponthedetachedlocomotivethatlayquietlysteamingontheupline,andwithathrillofexultation,herememberedthathewasanengineerbornandbred.Delaney’sdogswerealreadytobeheard,andtherollofhoofsontheLowerRoadwasdinninginhisears,asheleapedfromthebuckskinbeforethedepot.Thetraincrewscatteredlikefrightenedsheepbeforehim,butDykeignoredthem.Hispistolwasinhishandas,oncemoreonfoot,hesprangtowardtheloneengine.
“Outofthecab,”heshouted.“Bothofyou.Quick,orI’llkillyouboth.”
ThetwomentumbledfromtheironapronofthetenderasDykeswunghimselfup,droppinghispistolonthefloorofthecabandreachingwiththeoldinstinctforthefamiliarlevers.Thegreatcompoundhissedandtrembledasthesteamwasreleased,andthehugedriversstirred,turningslowlyonthetracks.Buttherewasashout.Delaney’sposse,dogsandmen,swungintoviewattheturnoftheroad,theirfiguresleaningoverastheytookthecurveatfullspeed.Dykethreweverythingwideopenandcaughtuphisrevolver.FrombehindcamethechallengeofaWinchester.ThepartyontheLowerRoadwereevencloserthanDelaney.
