Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           TheEarththatonlythatmorninghadbeensoeager,soresponsivetothelightestsummons,sovibrantwithLife,nowatnight,holdingdeathwithinitsembrace,guardinginviolatethesecretoftheGrave,wasdeaftoallentreaty,refusedtheAnswer,andAngeleremainedasbefore,onlyamemory,fardistant,intangible,lost.

           Vanameeliftedhishead,lookingabouthimwithunseeingeyes,tremblingwiththeexertionofhisvaineffort.Buthecouldnotasyetallowhimselftodespair.Neverbeforehadthatcuriouspowerofattractionfailedhim.Hefelthimselftobesostronginthisrespectthathewaspersuadedifheexertedhimselftothelimitofhiscapacity,something—hecouldnotsaywhat—mustcomeofit.Ifitwasonlyaself-delusion,anhallucination,hetoldhimselfthathewouldbecontent.

           Almostofitsownaccord,hisdistortedmindconcentrateditselfagain,everythought,allthepowerofhiswillrivetingthemselvesuponAngele.Asifshewerealive,hesummonedhertohim.Hiseyes,fixeduponthenamecutintotheheadstone,contracted,thepupilsgrowingsmall,hisfistsshuttight,hisnervesbracedrigid.

           Forafewsecondshestoodthus,breathless,expectant,awaitingthemanifestation,theMiracle.Then,withoutknowingwhy,hardlyconsciousofwhatwastranspiring,hefoundthathisglancewasleavingtheheadstone,wasturningfromthegrave.Notonlythis,buthiswholebodywasfollowingthedirectionofhiseyes.Beforeheknewit,hewasstandingwithhisbacktoAngele’sgrave,wasfacingthenorth,facingthelineofpeartreesandthelittlevalleywheretheSeedranchlay.