Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Butthere’safewpeoplethataremoretomethanmostothers—thatchapPresley,forinstance—andthosepeopleIDOwanttohavelikeme.Whattheythinkcounts.Pshaw!IknowI’vegotenemies;pilesofthem.Icouldnameyouhalfadozenmenrightnowthatarenaturallyitchingtotakeashotatme.Howaboutthisranch?Don’tIknow,can’tIhearthemengrowlingoathsundertheirbreathafterI’vegoneby?Andinbusinessways,too,”hewenton,speakinghalftohimself,“inBonnevilleandalloverthecountythere’snotamanofthemwouldn’thowlforjoyiftheygotachancetodownBuckAnnixter.ThinkIcare?Why,ILIKEit.IrunmyranchtosuitmyselfandIplaymygamemyownway.I’ma’driver,’Iknowit,anda’bully,’too.Oh,Iknowwhattheycallme—’abrutebeast,withatwistinmytemperthatwouldrileupanew-bornlamb,’andI’m’crusty’and’pig-headed’and’obstinate.’Theysayallthat,butthey’vegottosay,too,thatI’mclevererthananyman-jackintherunning.There’snobodycangetaheadofme.”Hiseyessnapped.“Let’emgrindtheirteeth.Theycan’t’down’me.WhenIshutmyfistthere’snotoneofthemcanopenit.No,notwithaCHISEL.”HeturnedtoHilmaagain.“Well,whenaman’shatedasmuchasthat,itstandstoreason,don’tit,MissHilma,thatthefewfriendshehasgothewantstokeep?I’mnotsuchanentireswinetothepeoplethatknowmebest—thatjackass,Presley,forinstance.I’dputmyhandinthefiretodohimarealservice.