Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Alreadyitwasfardistantfromhim;butonceagainitroseinhismemory,portentous,sombre,ineffaceable.HepasseditallinreviewfromthedayofhisfirstmeetingwithVanameetothedayofhispartingwithHilma.Hesawitall—thegreatsweepofcountryopeningtoviewfromthesummitofthehillsattheheadwatersofBroderson’sCreek;thebarndanceatAnnixter’s,theharnessroomwithitsjamoffuriousmen;thequietgardenoftheMission;Dyke’shouse,hisflightupontheengine,hisbravefightinthechaparral;LymanDerrickatbayinthedining-roomoftheranchhouse;therabbitdrive;thefightattheirrigatingditch,theshoutingmobintheBonnevilleOperaHouse.Thedramawasover.ThefightofRanchandRailroadhadbeenwroughtouttoitsdreadfulclose.Itwastrue,asShelgrimhadsaid,thatforcesratherthanmenhadlockedhornsinthatstruggle,butforallthatthemenoftheRanchandnotthemenoftheRailroadhadsuffered.Intotheprosperousvalley,intothequietcommunityoffarmers,thatgallopingmonster,thatterrorofsteelandsteamhadburst,shootingathwartthehorizons,flingingtheechoofitsthunderoveralltheranchesofthevalley,leavingbloodanddestructioninitspath.

           Yes,theRailroadhadprevailed.Therancheshadbeenseizedinthetentaclesoftheoctopus;theiniquitousburdenofextortionatefreightrateshadbeenimposedlikeayokeofiron.ThemonsterhadkilledHarran,hadkilledOsterman,hadkilledBroderson,hadkilledHooven.