Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter II
Thinkofit!Here’saloadofstuffforBonnevillethatcan’tstopatBonneville,whereitisconsigned,buthasgottogouptoSanFranciscofirstBYWAYOFBonneville,atfortycentspertonandthenbereshippedfromSanFranciscobacktoBonnevilleagainatFIFTY-ONEcentsperton,theshort-haulrate.Andwehavetopayitallorgowithout.Herearetheploughsrighthere,insightofthelandtheyhavegottobeusedon,theseasonjustreadyforthem,andwecan’ttouchthem.Oh,”heexclaimedindeepdisgust,“isn’titaprettymess!Isn’titafarce!thewholedirtybusiness!”
S.Behrmanlistenedtohimunmoved,hislittleeyesblinkingunderhisfatforehead,thegoldchainofhollowlinksclickingagainstthepearlbuttonsofhiswaistcoatashebreathed.
“Itdon’tdoanygoodtoletlooselikethat,Harran,”hesaidatlength.“IamwillingtodowhatIcanforyou.I’llhurrytheploughsthrough,butIcan’tchangethefreightregulationoftheroad.”
“What’syourblackmailforthis?”vociferatedHarran.“Howmuchdoyouwanttoletusgo?HowmuchhavewegottopayyoutobeALLOWEDtouseourownploughs—what’syourfigure?Come,spititout.”
“Iseeyouaretryingtomakemeangry,Harran,”returnedS.Behrman,“butyouwon’tsucceed.Bettergiveuptrying,myboy.AsIsaid,thebestwayistohavetherailroadandthefarmergetalongamicably.Itistheonlywaywecandobusiness.Well,s’long,Governor,Imusttrotalong.S’long,Harran.”Hetookhimselfoff.
