Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter I
Hestroveforthediapason,thegreatsongthatshouldembraceinitselfawholeepoch,acompleteera,thevoiceofanentirepeople,whereinallpeopleshouldbeincluded—theyandtheirlegends,theirfolklore,theirfightings,theirlovesandtheirlusts,theirblunt,grimhumour,theirstoicismunderstress,theiradventures,theirtreasuresfoundinadayandgambledinanight,theirdirect,crudespeech,theirgenerosityandcruelty,theirheroismandbestiality,theirreligionandprofanity,theirself-sacrificeandobscenity—atrueandfearlesssettingforthofapassingphaseofhistory,un-compromising,sincere;eachgroupinitsproperenvironment;thevalley,theplain,andthemountain;theranch,therange,andthemine—allthis,allthetraitsandtypesofeverycommunityfromtheDakotastotheMexicos,fromWinnipegtoGuadalupe,gatheredtogether,swepttogether,weldedandriventogetherinonesingle,mightysong,theSongoftheWest.Thatwaswhathedreamed,whilethingswithoutnames—thoughtsforwhichnomanhadyetinventedwords,terribleformlessshapes,vaguefigures,colossal,monstrous,distorted—whirledatagallopthroughhisimagination.
AsHarrancameup,Presleyreacheddownintothepouchesofthesun-bleachedshootingcoatheworeanddrewoutandhandedhimthepacketoflettersandpapers.
“Here’sthemail.IthinkIshallgoon.”
“Butdinnerisready,”saidHarran;“wearejustsittingdown.”
Presleyshookhishead.“No,I’minahurry.PerhapsIshallhavesomethingtoeatatGuadalajara.Ishallbegoneallday.
