Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Fartothewestandnorth,hesawBonnevilleveryplain,andthedomeofthecourthouse,apurplesilhouetteagainsttheglareofthesky.Otherpointsdetachedthemselves,swimminginagoldenmist,projectingblueshadowsfarbeforethem;themammothlive-oakbyHooven’s,toweringsuperbandmagnificent;thelineofeucalyptustrees,behindwhichheknewwastheLosMuertosranchhouse—hishome;thewatering-tank,thegreatiron-hoopedtowerofwoodthatstoodatthejoiningoftheLowerRoadandtheCountyRoad;thelongwind-breakofpoplartreesandthewhitewallsofCaraher’ssaloonontheCountyRoad.

           Butallthisseemedtobeonlyforeground,amerearrayofaccessories—amassofirrelevantdetails.BeyondAnnixter’s,beyondGuadalajara,beyondtheLowerRoad,beyondBrodersonCreek,ontothesouthandwest,infinite,illimitable,stretchingoutthereunderthesheenofthesunsetforeverandforever,flat,vast,unbroken,ahugescroll,unrollingbetweenthehorizons,spreadthegreatstretchesoftheranchofLosMuertos,bareofcrops,shavedcloseintherecentharvest.Nearathandwerehills,butonthatfarsouthernhorizononlythecurveofthegreatearthitselfcheckedtheview.AdjoiningLosMuertos,andwideningtothewest,openedtheBrodersonranch.TheOstermanranchtothenorthwestcarriedonthegreatsweepoflandscape;ranchafterranch.Then,astheimaginationitselfexpandedunderthestimulusofthatmeasurelessrangeofvision,eventhosegreatranchesresolvedthemselvesintomereforeground,mereaccessories,irrelevantdetails.