Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Vanameetookacoupleofturnsthelengthoftheaisle,lookingaboutintothechapelsoneithersideofthechancel.Butthebuildingwasdeserted.Thepriesthadbeenthererecently,nevertheless,forthealtarfurniturewasindisarray,asthoughhehadbeenrearrangingitbutamomentbefore.Onbothsidesofthechurchandhalf-wayuptheirlength,thewallswerepiercedbylowarchways,inwhichweremassivewoodendoors,clampedwithironbolts.Oneofthesedoors,onthepulpitsideofthechurch,stoodajar,andsteppingtoitandpushingitwideopen,Vanameelookeddiagonallyacrossalittlepatchofvegetables—beets,radishes,andlettuce—totherearofthebuildingthathadoncecontainedthecloisters,andthroughanopenwindowsawFatherSarriadiligentlypolishingthesilvercrucifixthatusuallystoodonthehighaltar.Vanameedidnotcalltothepriest.Puttingafingertoeithertemple,hefixedhiseyessteadilyuponhimforamomentashemovedaboutathiswork.Inafewsecondsheclosedhiseyes,butonlypartway.Thepupilscontracted;hisforeheadloweredtoanexpressionofpoignantintensity.Soonafterwardhesawthepriestpauseabruptlyintheactofdrawingthecoveroverthecrucifix,lookingabouthimfromsidetoside.Heturnedagaintohiswork,andagaincametoastop,perplexed,curious.Withuncertainsteps,andevidentlywonderingwhyhedidso,hecametothedooroftheroomandopenedit,lookingoutintothenight.Vanamee,hiddeninthedeepshadowofthearchway,didnotmove,buthiseyesclosed,andtheintenseexpressiondeepenedonhisface.