Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Then,stepbystep,heshrankbackintothedeepershadow,treadingwiththeinfiniteprecautionofaprowlingleopard.Aqualmofsomethingverymuchlikefearseizeduponhim.Butimmediatelyontheheelsofthisfirstimpressioncamethedoubtofhisownsenses.Whateverhadhappenedhadbeensoephemeral,sofaint,sointangible,thatnowhewonderedifhehadnotdeceivedhimself,afterall.Butthereactionfollowed.Surely,therehadbeenSomething.Andfromthatmomentbeganforhimthemostpoignantuncertaintyofmind.Graduallyhedrewbackintothegarden,holdinghisbreath,listeningtoeveryfaintestsound,walkingupontiptoe.Hereachedthefountain,andwettinghishands,passedthemacrosshisforeheadandeyes.Oncemorehestoodlistening.Thesilencewasprofound.

           Troubled,disturbed,Vanameewentaway,passingoutofthegarden,descendingthehill.HefordedBrodersonCreekwhereitintersectedtheroadtoGuadalajara,andwentonacrossQuienSabe,walkingslowly,hisheadbentdown,hishandsclaspedbehindhisback,thoughtful,perplexed.