Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter IV
ItisonlyHellthatisreal.”
Sarriacaughthimbythearm.
“Youareafoolandachild,”heexclaimed,“anditisblasphemythatyouaresaying.Iforbidit.Youunderstand?Iforbidit.”
Vanameeturnedonhimwithasuddencry.“Then,tellyourGodtogiveherbacktome!”
Sarriastartedawayfromhim,hiseyeswideninginastonishment,surprisedoutofallcomposurebytheother’soutburst.Vanamee’sswarthyfacewaspale,thesunkencheeksanddeep-seteyesweremarkedwithgreatblackshadows.Thepriestnolongerrecognisedhim.Theface,thatfaceoftheascetic,lean,framedinitslongblackhairandpointedbeard,wasquiveringwiththeexcitementofhallucination.ItwasthefaceoftheinspiredshepherdsoftheHebraiclegends,livingclosetonature,theyoungerprophetsofIsrael,dwellersinthewilderness,solitary,imaginative,believingintheVision,havingstrangedelusions,giftedwithstrangepowers.Inabriefsecondofthought,Sarriaunderstood.Outintothewilderness,thevastariddesertoftheSouthwest,Vanameehadcarriedhisgrief.Fordays,forweeks,monthseven,hehadbeenalone,asolitaryspecklostintheimmensityofthehorizons;continuallyhewasbrooding,hauntedwithhissorrow,thinking,thinking,oftenhardputtoitforfood.Thebodywasill-nourished,andthemind,concentratedforeverupononesubject,hadrecoileduponitself,hadpreyeduponthenaturallynervoustemperament,tilltheimaginationhadbecomeexalted,morbidlyactive,diseased,besetwithhallucinations,foreverinsearchofthemanifestation,ofthemiracle.
