Зов предков

           Buckhadacceptedtheropewithquietdignity. Tobesure,itwasanunwontedperformance: buthehadlearnedtotrustinmenheknew,andtogivethemcreditforawisdomthatoutreachedhisown. Butwhentheendsoftheropewereplacedinthestranger’shands,hegrowledmenacingly. Hehadmerelyintimatedhisdispleasure,inhispridebelievingthattointimatewastocommand. Buttohissurprisetheropetightenedaroundhisneck,shuttingoffhisbreath. Inquickragehesprangattheman,whomethimhalfway,grappledhimclosebythethroat,andwithadefttwistthrewhimoveronhisback. Thentheropetightenedmercilessly,whileBuckstruggledinafury,histonguelollingoutofhismouthandhisgreatchestpantingfutilely. Neverinallhislifehadhebeensovilelytreated,andneverinallhislifehadhebeensoangry. Buthisstrengthebbed,hiseyesglazed,andheknewnothingwhenthetrainwasflaggedandthetwomenthrewhimintothebaggagecar. 

           Thenextheknew,hewasdimlyawarethathistonguewashurtingandthathewasbeingjoltedalonginsomekindofaconveyance.Thehoarseshriekofalocomotivewhistlingacrossingtoldhimwherehewas. HehadtravelledtoooftenwiththeJudgenottoknowthesensationofridinginabaggagecar. Heopenedhiseyes,andintothemcametheunbridledangerofakidnappedking. Themansprangforhisthroat,butBuckwastooquickforhim. Hisjawsclosedonthehand,nordidtheyrelaxtillhissenseswerechokedoutofhimoncemore. 

           "Yep,hasfits,"themansaid,hidinghismangledhandfromthebaggageman,whohadbeenattractedbythesoundsofstruggle. "I’mtakin’‘mupforthebossto‘Frisco. Acrackdog-doctortherethinksthathecancure‘m." 

           Concerningthatnight’sride,themanspokemosteloquentlyforhimself,inalittleshedbackofasaloonontheSanFranciscowaterfront.