Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Presleyfoundanexcuseforridingon,leavingS.Behrmanbehindhim.HedidnotstopatCaraher’ssaloon,fortheheatofhisragehadlongsincebeguntocool,anddispassionately,hesawthingsintheirtruelight.Forallthetragedyofhiswife’sdeath,Caraherwasnonethelessanevilinfluenceamongtheranchers,aninfluencethatworkedonlytotheincitingofcrime.Unwillingtoventurehimself,toriskhisownlife,theanarchistsaloon-keeperhadgoadedDykeandPresleybothtomurder;abadman,aplaguespotintheworldoftheranchers,poisoningthefarmers’bodieswithalcoholandtheirmindswithdiscontent.

           Atlast,PresleyarrivedattheranchhouseofLosMuertos.Theplacewassilent;thegrassonthelawnwashalfdeadandoverafoothigh;thebeginningsofweedsshowedhereandthereinthedriveway.Hetiedhishorsetoaringinthetrunkofoneofthelargereucalyptustreesandenteredthehouse.

           Mrs.Derrickmethiminthedining-room.Theoldlookofuneasiness,almostofterror,hadgonefromherwide-openbrowneyes.Therewasintheminstead,theexpressionofonetowhomacontingency,longdreaded,hasarrivedandpassed.Thestolidityofasettledgrief,ofanirreparablecalamity,ofadespairfromwhichtherewasnoescapewasinherlook,hermanner,hervoice.Shewaslistless,apathetic,calmwiththecalmnessofawomanwhoknowsshecansuffernofurther.

           “Wearegoingaway,”shetoldPresley,asthetwosatdownatoppositeendsofthediningtable.“JustMagnusandmyself—allthereisleftofus.