Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Whentheymetattherendezvous,Vanameefoundheronlywithhisgropinghands.Theydidnotspeak,merewordswereuselessbetweenthem.Silentlyashisreachinghandstouchedherwarmbody,hetookherinhisarms,searchingforherlipswithhis.Thenonenightthetragedyhadsuddenlyleapedfromouttheshadowwiththeabruptnessofanexplosion.

           Itwasimpossibleafterwardstoreconstructthemannerofitsoccurrence.ToAngele’smind—whattherewasleftofit—thematteralwaysremainedahideousblur,ablot,avague,terribleconfusion.Nodoubttheytwohadbeenwatched;theplansucceededtoowellforanyothersupposition.Onemoonlessnight,Angele,arrivingundertheblackshadowofthepeartreesalittleearlierthanusual,foundtheapparentlyfamiliarfigurewaitingforher.Allunsuspectingshegaveherselftotheembraceofastrangepairofarms,andVanameearrivingbutascoreofmomentslater,stumbledoverherprostratebody,inertandunconscious,intheshadowoftheoverspiringtrees.

           WhowastheOther?AngelewascarriedtoherhomeontheSeedranch,delirious,allbutraving,andVanamee,withknifeandrevolverready,rangedthecountry-sidelikeawolf.Hewasnotalone.Thewholecountyrose,raging,horror-struck.Posseafterpossewasformed,sentout,andreturned,withoutsomuchasaclue.Uponnoonecouldeventheshadowofsuspicionbethrown.TheOtherhadwithdrawnintoanimpenetrablemystery.Thereheremained.Heneverwasfound;heneverwassomuchasheardof.