Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Hestartedhomeward,stillinhisdream,descendingfromthehill,emergingfromthecanyon,andtooktheshortcutstraightacrosstheQuienSaberanch,leavingGuadalajarafartohisleft.Hetrampedsteadilyonthroughthewheatstubble,walkingfast,hisheadinawhirl.

           Neverhadhesonearlygraspedhisinspirationasatthatmomentonthehilltop.Evennow,thoughthesunsetwasfading,thoughthewidereachofvalleywasshutfromsight,itstillkepthimcompany.Nowthedetailscamethrongingback—thecomponentpartsofhispoem,thesignsandsymbolsoftheWest.Itwasthere,closeathand,hehadbeenintouchwithitallday.Itwasinthecentenarian’svividlycolouredreminiscences—DeLaCuesta,holdinghisgrantfromtheSpanishcrown,withhispoweroflifeanddeath;theromanceofhismarriage;thewhitehorsewithitspillionofredleatherandsilverbridlemountings;thebull-fightsinthePlaza;thegiftsofgolddust,andhorsesandtallow.ItwasinVanamee’sstrangehistory,thetragedyofhislove;AngeleVarian,withhermarvellousloveliness;theEgyptianfulnessofherlips,theperplexingupwardslantofhervioleteyes,bizarre,oriental;herwhiteforeheadmadethreecorneredbyherplaitsofgoldhair;themysteryoftheOther;herdeathatthemomentofherchild’sbirth.