Зов предков
For the Love of a Man
Buckknewnogreaterjoythanthatroughembraceandthesoundofmurmuredoaths,andateachjerkbackandforthitseemedthathisheartwouldbeshakenoutofhisbodysogreatwasitsecstasy. Andwhen,released,hesprangtohisfeet,hismouthlaughing,hiseyeseloquent,histhroatvibrantwithunutteredsound,andinthatfashionremainedwithoutmovement,JohnThorntonwouldreverentlyexclaim, "God!youcanallbutspeak!"
Buckhadatrickofloveexpressionthatwasakintohurt. HewouldoftenseizeThornton’shandinhismouthandclosesofiercelythatthefleshboretheimpressofhisteethforsometimeafterward. AndasBuckunderstoodtheoathstobelovewords,sothemanunderstoodthisfeignedbiteforacaress.
Forthemostpart,however,Buck’slovewasexpressedinadoration. WhilehewentwildwithhappinesswhenThorntontouchedhimorspoketohim,hedidnotseekthesetokens. UnlikeSkeet,whowaswonttoshovehernoseunderThornton’shandandnudgeandnudgetillpetted,orNig,whowouldstalkupandresthisgreatheadonThornton’sknee,Buckwascontenttoadoreatadistance. Hewouldliebythehour,eager,alert,atThornton’sfeet,lookingupintohisface,dwellinguponit,studyingit,followingwithkeenestinteresteachfleetingexpression,everymovementorchangeoffeature. Or,aschancemighthaveit,hewouldliefartheraway,tothesideorrear,watchingtheoutlinesofthemanandtheoccasionalmovementsofhisbody.
