Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter I
Thoughtful,heleanedbackinhisplace,strokingthebridgeofhisbeak-likenosewithacrookedforefinger.
CedarquistturnedtoHarranandbeganaskingdetailsastotheconditionsofthewheatgrowersoftheSanJoaquin.Lymanstillmaintainedanattitudeofpolitealoofness,yawningoccasionallybehindthreefingers,andPresleywaslefttothecompanyofhisownthoughts.
Therehadbeenadaywhentheaffairsandgrievancesofthefarmersofhisacquaintance—Magnus,Annixter,Osterman,andoldBroderson—hadfilledhimonlywithdisgust.Hismindfullofagreat,vagueepicpoemoftheWest,hehadkepthimselfapart,disdainfulofwhathechosetoconsidertheirpettysquabbles.ButthesceneinAnnixter’sharnessroomhadthrilledandupliftedhim.Hewaspalpitatingwithexcitementallthroughthesucceedingmonths.Heabandonedtheideaofanepicpoem.Insixmonthshehadnotwrittenasingleverse.DayafterdayhetrembledwithexcitementastherelationsbetweentheTrustandLeaguebecamemoreandmorestrained.Hesawthematterinitstruelight.Itwastypical.Itwastheworld-oldwarbetweenFreedomandTyranny,andattimeshishatredoftherailroadshookhimlikeacrispandwitheredreed,whilethelanguidindifferenceofthepeopleoftheStatetothequarrelfilledhimwithablindexasperation.
But,ashehadonceexplainedtoVanamee,hemustfindexpression.Hefeltthathewouldsuffocateotherwise.Hehadbeguntokeepajournal.Astheinclinationspurredhim,hewrotedownhisthoughtsandideasinthis,sometimeseveryday,sometimesonlythreeorfourtimesamonth.
