Белый клык
The Law of Meat
Thelynx-motherwouldhaveeatenhimhadshenotherselfbeenkilledandeaten. Andsoitwent. Thelawwasbeinglivedabouthimbyalllivethings,andhehimselfwaspartandparcelofthelaw. Hewasakiller. Hisonlyfoodwasmeat,livemeat,thatranawayswiftlybeforehim,orflewintotheair, orclimbedtrees,orhidintheground,orfacedhimandfoughtwithhim,orturnedthetablesandranafterhim.
Hadthecubthoughtinman-fashion,hemighthaveepitomisedlifeasavoraciousappetite andtheworldasaplacewhereinrangedamultitudeofappetites,pursuingandbeingpursued,huntingandbeinghunted, eatingandbeingeaten,allinblindnessandconfusion,withviolenceanddisorder,achaosofgluttony andslaughter,ruledoverbychance,merciless,planless,endless.
Butthecubdidnotthinkinman-fashion. Hedidnotlookatthingswithwidevision. Hewassingle-purposed,andentertainedbutonethoughtordesireatatime. Besidesthelawofmeat,therewereamyriadotherandlesserlawsforhimtolearnandobey. Theworldwasfilledwithsurprise. Thestirofthelifethatwasinhim,theplayofhismuscles,wasanunendinghappiness. Torundownmeatwastoexperiencethrillsandelations. Hisragesandbattleswerepleasures. Terroritself,andthemysteryoftheunknown,ledtohisliving.
Andtherewereeasementsandsatisfactions. Tohaveafullstomach,todozelazilyinthesunshine—suchthingswereremunerationinfullforhisardoursandtoils,whilehisardoursandtollswereinthemselvesself-remunerative. Theywereexpressionsoflife,andlifeisalwayshappywhenitisexpressingitself. Sothecubhadnoquarrelwithhishostileenvironment. Hewasverymuchalive,veryhappy,andveryproudofhimself.
