Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Againandagain,staggeringalongintheblackdarkness,hebruisedhisknucklesandforeheadagainsttheironsidesoftheship.Hegaveuptheattempttofindanyinteriormeansofescapeandreturnedlaboriouslytothespaceundertheopenhatchway.Alreadyhecouldseethatthelevelofthewheatwasraised.

           “God,”hesaid,“thisisn’tgoingtodoatall.”Heutteredagreatshout.“Hello,ondeckthere,somebody.ForGod’ssake.”

           Thesteady,metallicroarofthepouringwheatdrownedouthisvoice.Hecouldscarcelyhearithimselfabovetherushofthecataract.Besidesthis,hefounditimpossibletostayunderthehatch.Theflyinggrainsofwheat,spatteringastheyfell,stunghisfacelikewind-drivenparticlesofice.Itwasaveritabletorture;hishandssmartedwithit.Oncehewasallbutblinded.Furthermore,thesucceedingwavesofwheat,rollingfromthemoundunderthechute,beathimback,swirlinganddashingagainsthislegsandknees,mountingswiftlyhigher,carryinghimoffhisfeet.

           Oncemoreheretreated,drawingbackfrombeneaththehatch.Hestoodstillforamomentandshoutedagain.Itwasinvain.Hisvoicereturneduponhim,unabletopenetratethethunderofthechute,andhorrified,hediscoveredthatsosoonashestoodmotionlessuponthewheat,hesankintoit.Beforeheknewit,hewasknee-deepagain,andalongswirlofgrainsweepingoutwardfromtheever-breaking,ever-reformingpyramidbelowthechute,pouredaroundhisthighs,immobolisinghim.

           Afrenzyofterrorsuddenlyleapedtolifewithinhim.