Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Becausethefarmershadbeenkilledattheirrigationditch,theseothers,Gerardandhisfamily,fedfull.TheyfattenedonthebloodofthePeople,onthebloodofthemenwhohadbeenkilledattheditch.Itwasahalf-ludicrous,half-horrible“dogeatdog,”anunspeakablecannibalism.Harran,Annixter,andHoovenwerebeingdevouredthereunderhiseyes.Thesedaintywomen,hiscousinBeatriceandlittleMissGerard,frail,delicate;allthesefineladieswiththeirsmallfingersandslendernecks,suddenlyweretransfiguredinhistorturedmindintoharpiestearinghumanflesh.Hisheadswamwiththehorrorofit,theterrorofit.Yes,thePeopleWOULDturnsomeday,andturning,rendthosewhonowpreyeduponthem.Itwouldbe“dogeatdog”again,withpositionsreversed,andhesawforoneinstantoftimethatsplendidhousesackedtoitsfoundations,thetablesoverturned,thepicturestorn,thehangingsblazing,andLiberty,thered-handedManintheStreet,grimedwithpowdersmoke,foulwiththegutter,rushyelling,torchinhand,througheverydoor.

           Atteno’clockMrs.Hoovenfell.

           LuckilyshewasleadingHildabythehandatthetimeandthelittlegirlwasnothurt.InvainhadMrs.Hooven,hourafterhour,walkedthestreets.Afterawhileshenolongermadeanyattempttobeg;nobodywasstirring,nordidsheeventrytohuntforfoodwiththestraydogsandcats.