Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Behrman,verymuchamused,changedplaceswithoneofthesacksewers,allowinghimtoholdhishorsewhilehemountedthesackingplatformandtookhisplace.Thetrepidationandjostlingofthemachineshookhimtillhisteethchatteredinhishead.Hisearswereshockedandassaultedbyamyriad-tonguedclamour,clashingsteel,strainingbelts,jarringwoodwork,whiletheimpalpablechaffpowderfromtheseparatorssettledlikedustinhishair,hisears,eyes,andmouth.

           Directlyinfrontofwherehesatontheplatformwasthechutefromthecleaner,andfromthisintothemouthofahalf-fullsackspoutedanunendinggushofgrain,winnowed,cleaned,threshed,readyforthemill.

           ThepourfromthechuteofthecleanerhadforS.Behrmananimmensesatisfaction.Withoutaninstant’spause,athickrivuletofwheatrolledanddashedtumultuousintothesack.Inhalfaminute—sometimesintwentyseconds—thesackwasfull,waspassedovertothesecondsewer,themouthreevedup,andthesackdumpedoutupontheground,tobepickedupbythewagonsandhauledtotherailroad.

           S.Behrman,hypnotised,satwatchingthatriverofgrain.Allthatshrieking,bellowingmachinery,allthatgiganticorganism,allthemonthsoflabour,theploughing,theplanting,theprayersforrain,theyearsofpreparation,theheartaches,theanxiety,theforesight,allthewholebusinessoftheranch,theworkofhorses,ofsteam,ofmenandboys,lookedtothisspot—thegrainchutefromtheharvesterintothesacks.Itsvolumewastheindexoffailureorsuccess,ofrichesorpoverty.