Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Thepriesthesitated,movedforwardastep,turnedback,pausedagain,thencamestraightacrossthegardenpatch,brusquelycollidingwithVanamee,stillmotionlessintherecessofthearchway.

           Sarriagaveagreatstart,catchinghisbreath.

           “Oh—oh,it’syou.WasityouIheardcalling?No,Icouldnothaveheard—Iremembernow.Whatastrangepower!Iamnotsurethatitisrighttodothisthing,Vanamee.I—IHADtocome.Idonotknowwhy.Itisagreatforce—apower—Idon’tlikeit.Vanamee,sometimesitfrightensme.”

           Vanameeputhischinintheair.

           “IfIhadwantedto,sir,IcouldhavemadeyoucometomefrombackthereintheQuienSaberanch.”

           Thepriestshookhishead.

           “Ittroublesme,”hesaid,“tothinkthatmyownwillcancountforsolittle.JustnowIcouldnotresist.Ifadeepriverhadbeenbetweenus,Imusthavecrossedit.SupposeIhadbeenasleepnow?”“Itwouldhavebeenalltheeasier,”answeredVanamee.“Iunderstandaslittleofthesethingsasyou.ButIthinkifyouhadbeenasleep,yourpowerofresistancewouldhavebeensomuchthemoreweakened.”

           “PerhapsIshouldnothavewaked.PerhapsIshouldhavecometoyouinmysleep.”

           “Perhaps.”

           Sarriacrossedhimself.“Itisoccult,”hehazarded.“No;Idonotlikeit.Dearfellow,”heputhishandonVanamee’sshoulder,“don’t—callmethatwayagain;promise.See,”heheldouthishand,“Iamallofatremble.There,wewon’tspeakofitfurther.Waitformeamoment.Ihaveonlytoputthecrossinitsplace,andafreshaltarcloth,andthenIamdone.