Белый клык
The Grey Cub
Hehaddiscoveredthatitwasdifferentfromtheotherwallslongbeforehehadanythoughtsofhisown,anyconsciousvolitions. Ithadbeenanirresistibleattractionbeforeeverhiseyesopenedandlookeduponit. Thelightfromithadbeatuponhissealedlids,andtheeyesandtheopticnerveshadpulsatedtolittle,sparklikeflashes, warm-colouredandstrangelypleasing. Thelifeofhisbody,andofeveryfibreofhisbody,thelifethatwastheverysubstanceofhisbodyandthatwasapartfromhisownpersonallife, hadyearnedtowardthislightandurgedhisbodytowarditinthesamewaythatthecunningchemistryofaplanturgesittowardthesun.
Always,inthebeginning,beforehisconsciouslifedawned,hehadcrawledtowardthemouthofthecave. Andinthishisbrothersandsisterswereonewithhim. Never,inthatperiod,didanyofthemcrawltowardthedarkcornersoftheback-wall. Thelightdrewthemasiftheywereplants; thechemistryofthelifethatcomposedthemdemandedthelightasanecessityofbeing; andtheirlittlepuppet-bodiescrawledblindlyandchemically,likethetendrilsofavine. Lateron,wheneachdevelopedindividuality andbecamepersonallyconsciousofimpulsionsanddesires,theattractionofthelightincreased. Theywerealwayscrawlingandsprawlingtowardit,andbeingdrivenbackfromitbytheirmother.
Itwasinthiswaythatthegreycublearnedotherattributesofhismotherthanthesoft,soothing,tongue. Inhisinsistentcrawlingtowardthelight,hediscoveredinheranosethatwithasharpnudgeadministeredrebuke, andlater,apaw,thatcrushedhimdownandrolledhimoverandoverwithswift,calculatingstroke. Thushelearnedhurt;andontopofithelearnedtoavoidhurt,first,bynotincurringtheriskofit; andsecond,whenhehadincurredtherisk,bydodgingandbyretreating.
