Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Onaflatplateauatthetopofoneofthehillsthecontestantsweretostrive.Therewastobeafootraceofyounggirlsunderseventeen,afatmen’srace,theyoungerfellowsweretoputtheshot,tocompeteintherunningbroadjump,andthestandinghighjump,inthehop,skip,andstepandinwrestling.

           Presleywasdelightedwithitall.ItwasHomeric,thisfeasting,thisvastconsumingofmeatandbreadandwine,followednowbygamesofstrength.Anepicsimplicityanddirectness,anhonestAnglo-Saxonmirthandinnocence,commendedit.Crudeitwas;coarseitwas,butnotaintofviciousnesswashere.Thesepeopleweregoodpeople,kindly,benignanteven,alwaysreadiertogivethantoreceive,alwaysmorewillingtohelpthantobehelped.Theyweregoodstock.Ofsuchwasthebackboneofthenation—sturdyAmericanseveryoneofthem.Whereelseintheworldroundweresuchstrong,honestmen,suchstrong,beautifulwomen?

           Annixter,Harran,andPresleyclimbedtothelevelplateauwherethegamesweretobeheld,tolayoutthecourses,andmarkthedistances.ItwastheveryplacewhereoncePresleyhadlovedtoloungeentireafternoons,readinghisbooksofpoems,smokinganddozing.Fromthishighpointonedominatedtheentirevalleytothesouthandwest.Theviewwassuperb.Thethreemenpausedforamomentonthecrestofthehilltoconsiderit.

           YoungVaccacamerunningandpantingupthehillafterthem,callingforAnnixter.

           “Well,well,whatisit?”

           “Mr.Osterman’slookingforyou,sir,youandMr.Harran.