Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Heturnedasidefromtheroad,andcrossingthenorthwestcornerofLosMuertosandthelineoftherailroad,turnedbackalongtheUpperRoadtillhecametotheLongTrestleandAnnixter’s,—Silence,desolation,abandonment.

           Avaststillness,profound,unbroken,broodedlowoveralltheplace.Nolivingthingstirred.Therustedwind-millontheskeleton-liketoweroftheartesianwellwasmotionless;thegreatbarnempty;thewindowsoftheranchhouse,cookhouse,anddairyboardedup.Naileduponatreenearthebrokengatewaywasaboard,whitepainted,withstencilledletters,bearingtheinscription:

           “Warning.ALLPERSONSFOUNDTRESPASSINGONTHESEPREMISESWILLBEPROSECUTEDTOTHEFULLESTEXTENTOFTHELAW.ByorderP.andS.W.R.R.”

           Ashehadplanned,PresleyreachedthehillsbytheheadwatersofBroderson’sCreeklateintheafternoon.Toilfullyheclimbedthem,reachedthehighestcrest,andturningabout,lookedlongandforthelasttimeatallthereachofthevalleyunrolledbeneathhim.Thelandoftheranchesopenedoutforeverandforeverunderthestimulusofthatmeasurelessrangeofvision.ThewholegiganticsweepoftheSanJoaquinexpandedTitanicbeforetheeyeofthemind,flagellatedwithheat,quiveringandshimmeringunderthesun’sredeye.Itwastheseasonaftertheharvest,andthegreatearth,themother,afteritsperiodofreproduction,itspainsoflabour,deliveredofthefruitofitsloins,sleptthesleepofexhaustionintheinfinitereposeofthecolossus,benignant,eternal,strong,thenourisherofnations,thefeederofanentireworld.