Белый клык

           Andhefeltshamethattheman-animalsshouldbelaughingathim. Heturnedandfledaway,notfromthehurtofthefire,butfromthelaughterthatsankevendeeper,andhurtinthespiritofhim. AndhefledtoKiche,ragingattheendofhersticklikeananimalgonemad—toKiche,theonecreatureintheworldwhowasnotlaughingathim. 

           Twilightdrewdownandnightcameon,andWhiteFanglaybyhismother’sside. Hisnoseandtonguestillhurt,buthewasperplexedbyagreatertrouble. Hewashomesick. Hefeltavacancyinhim,aneedforthehushandquietudeofthestreamandthecaveinthecliff. Lifehadbecometoopopulous. Thereweresomanyoftheman-animals,men,women,andchildren,allmakingnoisesandirritations. Andtherewerethedogs,eversquabblingandbickering,burstingintouproarsandcreatingconfusions. Therestfullonelinessoftheonlylifehehadknownwasgone. Heretheveryairwaspalpitantwithlife. Ithummedandbuzzedunceasingly. Continuallychangingitsintensityandabruptlyvariantinpitch,itimpingedonhisnervesandsenses,madehimnervousandrestlessandworriedhimwithaperpetualimminenceofhappening. 

           Hewatchedtheman-animalscomingandgoingandmovingaboutthecamp. Infashiondistantlyresemblingthewaymenlookuponthegodstheycreate,solookedWhiteFangupontheman-animalsbeforehim. Theyweresuperiorcreatures,ofaverity,gods. Tohisdimcomprehensiontheywereasmuchwonder-workersasgodsaretomen. Theywerecreaturesofmastery,possessingallmannerofunknownandimpossiblepotencies, overlordsofthealiveandthenotalive—makingobeythatwhichmoved,impartingmovementtothatwhichdidnotmove, andmakinglife,sun-colouredandbitinglife,togrowoutofdeadmossandwood. Theywerefire-makers!Theyweregods.