"R. A. Lafferty - Narrow Valley" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lafferty R A)

So the son Clarence Little-Saddle inherited. He also lived on the land
for many years without paying taxes.

There was a disturbance in the courthouse one day. The place
seemed to be invaded in force, but actually there were but one man, one
woman, and five children. тАЬIтАЩm Robert Rampart,тАЭ said the man, тАЬand we
want the Land Office.тАЭ

тАЬIтАЩm Robert Rampart Junior,тАЭ said a nine-year-old gangler, тАЬand we
want it pretty blamed quick.тАЭ

тАЬI donтАЩt think we have anything like that,тАЭ the girl at the desk said. тАЬIsnтАЩt
that something they had a long time ago?тАЭ

тАЬIgnorance is no excuse for inefficiency, my dear,тАЭ said Mary Mabel
Rampart, an eight-year-old who could easily pass for eight and a half. тАЬAfter
I make my report, I wonder who will be sitting at your desk tomorrow.тАЭ

тАЬYou people are either in the wrong state or the wrong century,тАЭ the
girl said.

тАЬThe Homestead Act still, obtains,тАЭ Robert Rampart insisted. тАЬThere
is one tract of land carried as open in this county. I want to file on it.тАЭ

Cecilia Rampart answered the knowing wink of a beefy man at the
distant desk. тАЬHi,тАЭ she breathed as she slinked over. тАЬIтАЩm Cecilia Rampart,
but my stage name is Cecilia San Juan. Do you think that seven is too
young to play ingenue roles?тАЭ

тАЬNot for you,тАЭ the man said. тАЬTell your folks to come over here.тАЭ

тАЬDo you know where the Land Office is?тАЭ Cecilia asked.

тАЬSure. ItтАЩs the fourth left-hand drawer of my desk. The smallest office
we got in the whole courthouse. We donтАЩt use it much any more.тАЭ

The Ramparts gathered around. The beefy man started to make out
the papers.

тАЬThis is the land description,тАЭ Robert Rampart began. тАЬWhy, youтАЩve
got it down already. How did you know?тАЭ

тАЬIтАЩve been around here a long time,тАЭ the man answered.

They did the paper work, and Robert Rampart filed on the land.

тАЬYou wonтАЩt be able to come onto the land itself, though,тАЭ the man
said.