Зов предков
For the Love of a Man
Becauseofhisverygreatlove,hecouldnotstealfromthisman,butfromanyotherman,inanyothercamp,hedidnothesitateaninstant;whilethecunningwithwhichhestoleenabledhimtoescapedetection.
Hisfaceandbodywerescoredbytheteethofmanydogs,andhefoughtasfiercelyaseverandmoreshrewdly. SkeetandNigweretoogood-naturedforquarrelling—besides,theybelongedtoJohnThornton; butthestrangedog,nomatterwhatthebreedorvalor,swiftlyacknowledgedBuck’ssupremacyorfoundhimselfstrugglingforlifewithaterribleantagonist. AndBuckwasmerciless. Hehadlearnedwellthelawofclubandfang,andheneverforewentanadvantageordrewbackfromafoehehadstartedonthewaytoDeath. HehadlessonedfromSpitz,andfromthechieffightingdogsofthepoliceandmail,andknewtherewasnomiddlecourse. Hemustmasterorbemastered;whiletoshowmercywasaweakness. Mercydidnotexistintheprimordiallife. Itwasmisunderstoodforfear,andsuchmisunderstandingsmadefordeath. Killorbekilled,eatorbeeaten,wasthelaw; andthismandate,downoutofthedepthsofTime,heobeyed.
Hewasolderthanthedayshehadseenandthebreathshehaddrawn. Helinkedthepastwiththepresent,andtheeternitybehindhimthrobbedthroughhiminamightyrhythmtowhichheswayedasthetidesandseasonsswayed.
