Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Butforallthatitwasthestrongholdoftheenemy—thecentreofallthatvastramifyingsystemofarteriesthatdrainedthelife-bloodoftheState;thenucleusofthewebinwhichsomanylives,somanyfortunes,somanydestinieshadbeenenmeshed.Fromthisplace—sohetoldhimself—hademanatedthatpolicyofextortion,oppressionandinjusticethatlittlebylittlehadshoulderedtheranchersfromtheirrights,till,theirbackstothewall,exasperatedanddespairingtheyhadturnedandfoughtanddied.FromherehadcometheorderstoS.Behrman,toCyrusRugglesandtoGenslinger,theordersthathadbroughtDyketoaprison,thathadkilledAnnixter,thathadruinedMagnus,thathadcorruptedLyman.Herewasthekeepofthecastle,andhere,behindoneofthosemanywindows,inoneofthosemanyoffices,hishandupontheleversofhismightyengine,satthemaster,Shelgrimhimself.

           Instantly,upontherealisationofthisfactanungovernabledesireseizeduponPresley,aninordinatecuriosity.Whynotsee,facetoface,themanwhosepowerwassovast,whosewillwassoresistless,whosepotencyforevilsolimitless,themanwhoforsolongandsohopelesslytheyhadallbeenfighting.Byreputationheknewhimtobeapproachable;whyshouldhenotthenapproachhim?Presleytookhisresolutioninbothhands.Ifhefailedtoactuponthisimpulse,heknewhewouldneveractatall.