Белый клык
The Makers of Fire
Thespellofthecub’sheritagewasuponhim,thefearandtherespectbornofthecenturiesofstruggleandtheaccumulatedexperienceofthegenerations. Theheritagewastoocompellingforawolfthatwasonlyacub. Hadhebeenfull-grown,hewouldhaverunaway. Asitwas,hecowereddowninaparalysisoffear, alreadyhalfprofferingthesubmissionthathiskindhadprofferedfromthefirsttimeawolfcameintositbyman’sfireandbemadewarm.
OneoftheIndiansaroseandwalkedovertohimandstoopedabovehim. Thecubcoweredclosertotheground. Itwastheunknown,objectifiedatlast,inconcretefleshandblood,bendingoverhimandreachingdowntoseizeholdofhim. Hishairbristledinvoluntarily;hislipswrithedbackandhislittlefangswerebared. Thehand,poisedlikedoomabovehim,hesitated,andthemanspokelaughing, "Wabamwabiscaippittah."("Look!Thewhitefangs!")
TheotherIndianslaughedloudly,andurgedthemanontopickupthecub. Asthehanddescendedcloserandcloser,thereragedwithinthecubabattleoftheinstincts. Heexperiencedtwogreatimpulsions—toyieldandtofight. Theresultingactionwasacompromise. Hedidboth. Heyieldedtillthehandalmosttouchedhim.Thenhefought,histeethflashinginasnapthatsankthemintothehand. Thenextmomenthereceivedacloutalongsidetheheadthatknockedhimoveronhisside. Thenallfightfledoutofhim. Hispuppyhoodandtheinstinctofsubmissiontookchargeofhim. Hesatuponhishaunchesandki-yi’d. Butthemanwhosehandhehadbittenwasangry. Thecubreceivedacloutontheothersideofhishead.Whereuponhesatupandki-yi’dlouderthanever.
