Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           OntheotherdivisionsofQuienSabethesameworkwasinprogress.Occasionallyhecouldseeanothercolumnofploughsintheadjoiningdivision—sometimessocloseathandthatthesubduedmurmurofitsmovementsreachedhisear;sometimessodistantthatitresolveditselfintoalong,brownstreakuponthegreyoftheground.FartherofftothewestontheOstermanranchothercolumnscameandwent,and,once,fromthecrestofthehighestswellonhisdivision,VanameecaughtadistantglimpseoftheBrodersonranch.There,too,movingspecksindicatedthattheploughingwasunderway.Andfartherawaystill,farofftherebeyondthefinelineofthehorizons,overthecurveoftheglobe,theshoulderoftheearth,heknewwereotherranches,andbeyondtheseothers,andbeyondthesestillothers,theimmensitiesmultiplyingtoinfinity.

           EverywherethroughoutthegreatSanJoaquin,unseenandunheard,athousandploughsup-stirredtheland,tensofthousandsofshearsclutcheddeepintothewarm,moistsoil.

           Itwasthelongstrokingcaress,vigorous,male,powerful,forwhichtheEarthseemedpanting.Theheroicembraceofamultitudeofironhands,grippingdeepintothebrown,warmfleshofthelandthatquiveredresponsiveandpassionateunderthisrudeadvance,sorobustastobealmostanassault,soviolentastobeveritablybrutal.