Зов предков
For the Love of a Man
Andoften,suchwasthecommunioninwhichtheylived,thestrengthofBuck’sgazewoulddrawJohnThornton’sheadaround,andhewouldreturnthegaze,withoutspeech,hisheartshiningoutofhiseyesasBuck’sheartshoneout.
Foralongtimeafterhisrescue,BuckdidnotlikeThorntontogetoutofhissight. Fromthemomentheleftthetenttowhenheentereditagain,Buckwouldfollowathisheels. HistransientmasterssincehehadcomeintotheNorthlandhadbredinhimafearthatnomastercouldbepermanent. HewasafraidthatThorntonwouldpassoutofhislifeasPerraultandFrancoisandtheScotchhalf-breedhadpassedout. Eveninthenight,inhisdreams,hewashauntedbythisfear. Atsuchtimeshewouldshakeoffsleepandcreepthroughthechilltotheflapofthetent,wherehewouldstandandlistentothesoundofhismaster’sbreathing.
ButinspiteofthisgreatloveheboreJohnThornton,whichseemedtobespeakthesoftcivilizinginfluence,thestrainoftheprimitive,whichtheNorthlandhadarousedinhim,remainedaliveandactive. Faithfulnessanddevotion,thingsbornoffireandroof,werehis;yetheretainedhiswildnessandwiliness. Hewasathingofthewild,comeinfromthewildtositbyJohnThornton’sfire,ratherthanadogofthesoftSouthlandstampedwiththemarksofgenerationsofcivilization.
