Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Theex-engineer’smotherwastalkingtoMagnusandHarran,andcryingasshetalked.ItseemedthatDykewasmissing.Hehadgoneintotownearlythatafternoonwiththewagonandteam,andwastohavebeenhomeforsupper.Bynowitwasteno’clockandtherewasnonewsofhim.Mrs.DyketoldhowshefirsthadgonetoQuienSabe,intendingtotelephonefromtheretoBonneville,butAnnixterwasinSanFrancisco,andinhisabsencethehousewaslockedup,andtheover-seer,whohadaduplicatekey,washimselfinBonneville.ShehadtelegraphedthreetimesfromGuadalajaratoBonnevillefornewsofherson,butwithoutresult.Then,atlast,torturedwithanxiety,shehadgonetoHooven’s,takingSidneywithher,andhadprevailedupon“Bismarck”tohitchupanddriveheracrossLosMuertostotheGovernor’s,tobeghimtotelephoneintoBonneville,toknowwhathadbecomeofDyke.

           WhileHarranrangupCentralintown,Mrs.DyketoldPresleyandMagnusofthelamentablechangeinDyke.

           “Theyhavebrokenmyson’sspirit,Mr.Derrick,”shesaid.“Ifyouwereonlytheretosee.Hourafterhour,hesitsontheporchwithhishandslyingopeninhislap,lookingatthemwithoutaword.Hewon’tlookmeinthefaceanymore,andhedon’tsleep.Nightafternight,hehaswalkedtheflooruntilmorning.Andhewillgoonthatwayfordaystogether,verysilent,withoutaword,andsittingstillinhischair,andthen,allofasudden,hewillbreakout—oh,Mr.