Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Betweenthemandthevision,betweenthefecundSanJoaquin,reekingwithfruitfulness,andthemillionsofAsiacrowdingtowardthevergeofstarvation,laytheiron-heartedmonsterofsteelandsteam,implacable,insatiable,huge—itsentrailsgorgedwiththelifebloodthatitsuckedfromanentirecommonwealth,itseverhungrymawgluttedwiththeharveststhatshouldhavefedthefamishedbelliesofthewholeworldoftheOrient.

           Butabruptly,whilethefourmenstoodthere,gazingintoeachother’sfaces,avigoroushand-clappingbrokeout.TheraffleofHartrath’spicturewasover,andasPresleyturnedabouthesawMrs.Cedarquistandhertwodaughterssignallingeagerlytothemanufacturer,unabletoreachhimbecauseoftheinterveningcrowd.ThenMrs.Cedarquistraisedhervoiceandcried:

           “I’vewon.I’vewon.”

           Unnoticed,andwithbutabriefwordtoCedarquist,MagnusandHarranwentdownthemarblestepsleadingtothestreetdoor,silent,Harran’sarmtightaroundhisfather’sshoulder.

           Atoncetheorchestrastruckintoalivelyair.Arenewedmurmurofconversationbrokeout,andCedarquist,ashesaidgood-byetoPresley,lookedfirstattheretreatingfiguresoftheranchers,thenatthegaylydressedthrongofbeautifulwomenanddebonairyoungmen,andindicatingthewholescenewithasinglegesture,said,smilingsadlyashespoke:

           “Notacity,Presley,notacity,butaMidwayPlaisance.”