Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Underneathhimwasthejarring,jolting,tremblingmachine;notaclodwasturned,notanobstacleencountered,thathedidnotreceivetheswiftimpressionofitthroughallhisbody,theveryfrictionofthedampsoil,slidingincessantlyfromtheshinysurfaceoftheshears,seemedtoreproduceitselfinhisfinger-tipsandalongthebackofhishead.Heheardthehorse-hoofsbythemyriadscrushingdowneasily,deeply,intotheloam,theprolongedclinkingoftrace-chains,theworkingofthesmoothbrownflanksintheharness,theclatterofwoodenhames,thechampingofbits,theclickofironshoesagainstpebbles,thebrittlestubbleofthesurfacegroundcracklingandsnappingasthefurrowsturned,thesonorous,steadybreathswrenchedfromthedeep,labouringchests,strap-bound,shiningwithsweat,andallalongthelinethevoicesofthementalkingtothehorses.Everywheretherewerevisionsofglossybrownbacks,straining,heaving,swollenwithmuscle;harnessstreakedwithspecksoffroth,broad,cup-shapedhoofs,heavywithbrownloam,men’sfacesredwithtan,blueoverallsspottedwithaxle-grease;muscledhands,theknuckleswhitenedintheirgriponthereins,andthroughitalltheammoniacalsmellofthehorses,thebitterreekofperspirationofbeastsandmen,thearomaofwarmleather,thescentofdeadstubble—andstrongerandmorepenetratingthaneverythingelse,theheavy,enervatingodouroftheupturned,livingearth.

           Atintervals,fromthetopsofoneoftherare,lowswellsoftheland,Vanameeoverlookedawiderhorizon.