16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
was disappointed, for this before them was not
the last valley but only the prelude to an even
higher range; and still the road climbed.
A new and immediate anxiety added itself to
the rest in Stephen's head and bosom, that of
being benighted: already the sun was low behind
them; there was twilight down there in the
lower part of their present valley; and the
western sky was assuming a violet tinge.
Another half hour, a hard half hour, with
Joselito grunting as he strode on, and there
before them was a new ridge and the parting
of the ways. The road split into two thinner
paths, that on the right leading to the Benedictine
house of San Pedro, the other to the Dominicans
of San Pablo. Shading his eyes
against the powerful wind, Stephen could see
them both quite clearly, a hand's breadth
above the rising shadow of the night.