Маугли
The White Seal
Kotickmadehisdolphin-jumpintheairandshoutedasloudashecould:"Clam-eater!Clam-eater!"HeknewthatSeaVitchnevercaughtafishinhislifebutalwaysrootedforclamsandseaweed;thoughhepretendedtobeaveryterribleperson.NaturallytheChickiesandtheGooverooskiesandtheEpatkas—theBurgomasterGullsandtheKittiwakesandthePuffins,whoarealwayslookingforachancetoberude,tookupthecry,and—soLimmershintoldme—fornearlyfiveminutesyoucouldnothaveheardagunfiredonWalrusIslet.Allthepopulationwasyellingandscreaming"Clam-eater!Stareek!"whileSeaVitchrolledfromsidetosidegruntingandcoughing.
"Nowwillyoutell?"saidKotick,alloutofbreath.
"GoandaskSeaCow,"saidSeaVitch."Ifheislivingstill,he’llbeabletotellyou."
"HowshallIknowSeaCowwhenImeethim?"saidKotick,sheeringoff.
"He’stheonlythingintheseauglierthanSeaVitch,"screamedaBurgomastergull,wheelingunderSeaVitch’snose."Uglier,andwithworsemanners!Stareek!"
KotickswambacktoNovastoshnah,leavingthegullstoscream.Therehefoundthatnoonesympathizedwithhiminhislittleattempttodiscoveraquietplacefortheseals.Theytoldhimthatmenhadalwaysdriventheholluschickie—itwaspartoftheday’swork—andthatifhedidnotliketoseeuglythingsheshouldnothavegonetothekillinggrounds.Butnoneoftheothersealshadseenthekilling,andthatmadethedifferencebetweenhimandhisfriends.
