Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter VI
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Theyedgedtheirwayaroundthehalloutside“TheGrandMarch,”towardtheharnessroom,pickingupontheirwayCaraher,Dyke,HoovenandoldBroderson.Onceintheharnessroom,Annixtershotthebolt.
“Thataffairoutside,”heobserved,“willtakecareofitself,buthere’salittleorphanchildthatgetslonesomewithoutcompany.”
Annixterbeganladlingthepunch,fillingtheglasses.
OstermanproposedatoasttoQuienSabeandtheBiggestBarn.Theirelbowscrookedinsilence.OldBrodersonsetdownhisglass,wipinghislongbeardandremarking:
“That—thatcertainlyisvery—veryagreeable.IrememberapunchIdrankonChristmasdayin’83,orno,itwas’84—anyhow,thatpunch—itwasinUkiah—’TWAS’83—”Hewanderedonaimlessly,unabletostophisflowofspeech,losinghimselfindetails,involvinghistalkinahopelessmazeoftrivialitiestowhichnobodypaidanyattention.
“Idon’tdrinkmyself,”observedDyke,“butjustatasteofthatwithalotofwaterwouldn’tbebadforthelittletad.She’dthinkitwaslemonade.”HewasabouttomixaglassforSidney,butthoughtbetterofitatthelastmoment.
“It’sthechartreusethat’slacking,”commentedCaraher,loweringatAnnixter.Theotherflaredupontheinstant.
“Rot,rot.Iknowbetter.Insomepunchesitgoes;andthen,again,inothersitdon’t.”
ButitwaslefttoHooventolaunchthesuccessfulphrase:
“Gesundheit,”heexclaimed,holdingouthissecondglass.Afterdrinking,hereplaceditonthetablewithalongbreath.
