Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           “Iwon’tneedit,”answeredthedoctor,“he’sdyingnow.”

           Atthewordsagreathushwidenedthroughoutthethrongnearathand.Somementookofftheirhats.

           “Standback,”protestedthedoctorquietly,“standback,goodpeople,please.”

           Thecrowdborebackalittle.Inthesilence,awomanbegantosob.Thesecondspassed,thenaminute.Thehorsesofthecarry-allshiftedtheirfeetandwhiskedtheirtails,drivingofftheflies.Atlength,thedoctorgotdownfromthecarry-all,lettingdowntherain-flapsonthatsideaswell.

           “Willsomebodygohomewiththebody?”heasked.Gethingssteppedforwardandtookhisplacebythedriver.Thecarry-alldroveaway.

           Presleyreenteredthehouse.DuringhisabsenceithadbeenclearedofallbutoneortwooftheLeaguers,whohadtakenpartinthefight.HilmastillsatonthebedwithAnnixter’sheadinherlap.S.Behrman,Ruggles,andalltherailroadpartyhadgone.OstermanhadbeentakenawayinahackandthetableclothoverDabney’sbodyreplacedwithasheet.Butstillunabated,agonised,raucous,camethesoundsofHarran’sbreathing.Everythingpossiblehadalreadybeendone.Forthemomentitwasoutofthequestiontoattempttomovehim.Hismotherandfatherwereathisside,Magnus,withafaceofstone,hislookfixedonthosepersistentlytwitchingeyes,AnnieDerrickcrouchingatherson’sside,oneofhishandsinhers,fanninghisfacecontinuallywiththecrumpledsheetofanoldnewspaper.

           Presleyontip-toesjoinedthegroup,lookingonattentively.