Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter II
Vanameewas,beyonddoubt,nopartofthelifeofranchandcountrytown.Hewasanalien,avagabond,astrangefellowwhocameandwentinmysteriousfashion,makingnofriends,keepingtohimself.Whydidheneverwearahat,whyindulgeinafine,black,pointedbeard,wheneitheraroundbeardoramustachewastheinvariablecustom?Whydidhenotcuthishair?Aboveall,whydidheprowlaboutsomuchatnight?Asthetwopassedeachother,Dyke,forallhisgood-nature,wasalittlebluntinhisgreetingandlookedbackattheex-shepherdoverhisshoulder.
Dykewasrightinhissuspicion.Vanamee’sbedhadnotbeendisturbedforthreenights.OntheMondayofthatweekhehadpassedtheentirenightinthegardenoftheMission,overlookingtheSeedranch,inthelittlevalley.Tuesdayeveninghadfoundhimmilesawayfromthatspot,inadeeparroyointheSierrafoothillstotheeastward,whileWednesdayhehadsleptinanabandoned’dobeonOsterman’sstockrange,twentymilesfromhisrestingplaceofthenightbefore.
ThefactofthematterwasthattheoldrestlessnesshadoncemoreseizeduponVanamee.Somethingbegantuggingathim;thespurofsomeunseenridertouchedhisflank.Theinstinctofthewandererwokeandmoved.ForsometimenowhehadbeenapartoftheLosMuertosstaff.OnQuienSabe,asontheotherranches,theslackseasonwasathand.Whilewaitingforthewheattocomeupnoonewasdoingmuchofanything.VanameehadcomeovertoLosMuertosandspentmostofhisdaysonhorseback,ridingtherange,roundingupandwatchingthecattleinthefourthdivisionoftheranch.
