Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter II
“I’llseethatyourploughsarehurriedthroughforyouthen,Mr.Derrick.Wewillroutethembyfastfreightforyouanditwon’tcostyouanythingextra.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”demandedHarran.“Theploughsarehere.Wehavenothingmoretodowiththerailroad.Iamgoingtohavemywagonsdownherethisafternoon.”
“Iamsorry,”answeredS.Behrman,“butthecarsaregoingnorth,not,asyouthought,comingFROMthenorth.TheyhavenotbeentoSanFranciscoyet.”
Magnusmadeaslightmovementoftheheadasonewhoremembersafacthithertoforgotten.ButHarranwasasyetunenlightened.
“ToSanFrancisco!”heanswered,“wewantthemhere—whatareyoutalkingabout?”
“Well,youknow,ofcourse,theregulations,”answeredS.Behrman.“FreightofthiskindcomingfromtheEasternpointsintotheStatemustgofirsttooneofourcommonpointsandbereshippedfromthere.”
Harrandidremembernow,butneverbeforehadthemattersostruckhome.Heleanedbackinhisseatindumbamazementfortheinstant.EvenMagnushadturnedalittlepale.Then,abruptly,Harranbrokeoutviolentandraging.
“Whatnext?MyGod,whydon’tyoubreakintoourhousesatnight?Whydon’tyoustealthewatchoutofmypocket,stealthehorsesoutoftheharness,holdusupwithashot-gun;yes,’standanddeliver;yourmoneyoryourlife.’HerewebringourploughsfromtheEastoveryourlines,butyou’renotcontentwithyourlong-haulratebetweenEasternpointsandBonneville.Youwanttogetusunderyourruinousshort-haulratebetweenBonnevilleandSanFrancisco,ANDRETURN.
