Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           InstantlyPresleywasawareofanimmensechange.Vanamee’sfacewasstillthatofanascetic,stillglowedwiththerarefiedintelligenceofayoungseer,ahalf-inspiredshepherd-prophetofHebraiclegends;buttheshadowofthatgreatsadnesswhichforsolonghadbroodedoverhimwasgone;thegriefthatoncehehadfancieddeathlesswas,indeed,dead,orratherswallowedupinavictoriousjoythatradiatedlikesunlightatdawnfromthedeep-seteyes,andthehollow,swarthycheeks.Theytalkedtogethertillnearlysundown,buttoPresley’squestionsastothereasonsforVanamee’shappiness,theotherwouldsaynothing.Onceonlyheallowedhimselftotouchuponthesubject.

           “Deathandgriefarelittlethings,”hesaid.“Theyaretransient.Lifemustbebeforedeath,andjoybeforegrief.Elsetherearenosuchthingsasdeathorgrief.Theseareonlynegatives.Lifeispositive.Deathisonlytheabsenceoflife,justasnightisonlytheabsenceofday,andifthisisso,thereisnosuchthingasdeath.Thereisonlylife,andthesuppressionoflife,thatwe,foolishly,sayisdeath.’Suppression,’Isay,notextinction.Idonotsaythatlifereturns.Lifeneverdeparts.LifesimplyIS.Forcertainseasons,itishiddeninthedark,butisthatdeath,extinction,annihilation?Itakeit,thankGod,thatitisnot.Doesthegrainofwheat,hiddenforcertainseasonsinthedark,die?ThegrainwethinkisdeadRESUMESAGAIN;buthow?Notasonegrain,butastwenty.Soalllife.Deathisonlyrealforallthedetritusoftheworld,forallthesorrow,foralltheinjustice,forallthegrief.