Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Butsuchlittlehaulingastherehadbeenhadreducedtheroadsthereaboutstoalamentablecondition,and,duringthedryseasonofthepastfewmonths,thelayerofdusthaddeepenedandthickenedtosuchanextentthatmorethanoncePresleywasobligedtodismountandtrudgealongonfoot,pushinghisbicycleinfrontofhim.

           ItwasthelasthalfofSeptember,theveryendofthedryseason,andallTulareCounty,allthevastreachesoftheSanJoaquinValley—infactallSouthCentralCalifornia,wasbonedry,parched,andbakedandcrispedafterfourmonthsofcloudlessweather,whenthedayseemedalwaysatnoon,andthesunblazedwhitehotoverthevalleyfromtheCoastRangeinthewesttothefoothillsoftheSierrasintheeast.

           AsPresleydrewneartothepointwherewhatwasknownastheLowerRoadstruckoffthroughtheRanchodeLosMuertos,leadingontoGuadalajara,hecameupononeofthecountywatering-tanks,agreat,iron-hoopedtowerofwood,straddlingclumsilyonitsfouruprightsbytheroadside.Sincethedayofitscompletion,thestorekeepersandretailersofBonnevillehadpaintedtheiradvertisementsuponit.Itwasalandmark.Inthatreachoflevelfields,thewhitelettersuponitcouldbereadformiles.Awatering-troughstoodnearby,and,ashewasverythirsty,Presleyresolvedtostopforamomenttogetadrink.

           Hedrewabreastofthetankandhaltedthere,leaninghisbicycleagainstthefence.Acoupleofmeninwhiteoverallswererepaintingthesurfaceofthetank,seatedonswingingplatformsthathungbyhooksfromtheroof.Theywerepaintingasign—anadvertisement.