Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter IV
“Inawayyoudo,”hebegan,“andthenagain——”
Hilmabeatatattoowithherheelsuponthefloor,shuttingherfists,thethumbstuckedinside.Sheclosedhereyes,shakingherheadenergetically.
“Iwon’tlisten,Iwon’tlisten,Iwon’tlisten,”shecried.
“But,justthesame——”
“Gibble—gibble—gibble,”shemocked.“Iwon’tListen,Iwon’tlisten.”Sheputahandoverhismouth.“Look,here’sthedining-carwaiter,andthefirstcallforsupper,andyourwifeishungry.”
Theywentforwardandhadsupperinthediner,whilethelongtrain,nowoutuponthemainline,settleditselftoitspace,theprolonged,evengallopthatitwouldholdforthebetterpartoftheweek,spinningoutthemilesasacottonspinnerspinsthread.
ItwasalreadydarkwhenAntiochwasleftbehind.AbruptlythesunsetappearedtowheelintheskyandreadjusteditselftotherightofthetrackbehindMountDiablo,herevisiblealmosttoitsbase.Thetrainhadturnedsouthward.Nerolywaspassed,thenBrentwood,thenByron.Inthegatheringdusk,mountainsbegantobuildthemselvesuponeitherhand,faroff,blockingthehorizon.Thetrainshotforward,roaring.Betweenthemountainsthelandlaylevel,cutupintofarms,ranches.Thesecontinuallygrewlarger;growingwheatbegantoappear,billowinginthewindofthetrain’spassage.Themountainsgrewhigher,thelandricher,andbythetimethemoonrose,thetrainwaswellintothenorthernmostlimitsofthevalleyoftheSanJoaquin.
