Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           ”

           “Ah,yes,inaway,that’sso;andthen,again,inaway,itISN’T.Iknowbetter.”

           Allalongonesideofthebarnwerearowofstalls,fourteenofthem,cleanasyet,redolentofnewcutwood,thesawduststillinthecracksoftheflooring.Deliberatelythedruggistwentfromonetotheother,pausingcontemplativelybeforeeach.Hereturneddownthelineandagaintookuphispositionbythedoorofthefeedroom,noddinghisheadjudicially,asifsatisfied.Hedecidedtoputonhisgloves.

           Bynowitwasquitedark.Outside,betweenthebarnandtheranchhousesonecouldseeagroupofmenonstep-ladderslightingthefestoonsofJapaneselanterns.Inthedarkness,onlytheirfacesappearedhereandthere,highabovetheground,seeninahazeofred,strange,grotesque.Graduallyasthemultitudeoflanternswerelit,thelightspread.Thegrassunderfootlookedlikegreenexcelsior.Anothergroupofmeninvadedthebarnitself,lightingthelampsandlanternsthere.Soonthewholeplacewasgleamingwithpointsoflight.YoungVacca,whohaddisappeared,returnedwithhispocketsfullofwaxcandles.Heresumedhiswhittling,refusingtoansweranyquestions,vociferatingthathewasbusy.

           Outsidetherewasasoundofhoofsandvoices.Moreguestshadarrived.Thedruggist,seizedwithconfusion,terrifiedlesthehadputonhisglovestoosoon,thrusthishandsintohispockets.ItwasCutter,MagnusDerrick’sdivisionsuperintendent,whocame,bringinghiswifeandhertwogirlcousins.