Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter IX
AndasPresleylookedtherecametohimstrongandtruethesenseandthesignificanceofalltheenigmaofgrowth.Heseemedforoneinstanttotouchtheexplanationofexistence.Menwerenothings,mereanimalculae,mereephemeridesthatflutteredandfellandwereforgottenbetweendawnanddusk.Vanameehadsaidtherewasnodeath.ButforonesecondPresleycouldgoonestepfurther.Menwerenaught,deathwasnaught,lifewasnaught;FORCEonlyexisted—FORCEthatbroughtmenintotheworld,FORCEthatcrowdedthemoutofittomakewayforthesucceedinggeneration,FORCEthatmadethewheatgrow,FORCEthatgarnereditfromthesoiltogiveplacetothesucceedingcrop.
Itwasthemysteryofcreation,thestupendousmiracleofrecreation;thevastrhythmoftheseasons,measured,alternative,thesunandthestarskeepingtimeastheeternalsymphonyofreproductionswunginitstremendouscadenceslikethecolossalpendulumofanalmightymachine—primordialenergyflungoutfromthehandoftheLordGodhimself,immortal,calm,infinitelystrong.
Butashestoodthuslookingdownuponthegreatvalleyhewasawareofthefigureofaman,farinthedistance,movingsteadilytowardstheMissionofSanJuan.Themanwashardlymorethanadot,buttherewassomethingunmistakablyfamiliarinhisgait;andbesidesthis,Presleycouldfancythathewashatless.Hetouchedhisponywithhisspur.ThemanwasVanameebeyondalldoubt,andalittlelaterPresley,descendingthemazeofcow-pathsandcattle-trailsthatleddowntowardstheBrodersonCreek,overtookhisfriend.
