Алая чума
Chapter 5
Thedog,yousee,alwayswasasocialanimal,andthiswastruebeforeeverhecametobedomesticatedbyman. Inthelastdaysoftheworldbeforetheplague,thereweremanymanyverydifferentkindsofdogs—dogswithouthairanddogswithwarmfur,dogssosmallthattheywouldmakescarcelyamouthfulforotherdogsthatwereaslargeasmountainlions. Well,allthesmalldogs,andtheweaktypes,werekilledbytheirfellows. Also,theverylargeoneswerenotadaptedforthewildlifeandbredout. Asaresult,themanydifferentkindsofdogsdisappeared,andthereremained,runninginpacks,themedium-sizedwolfishdogsthatyouknowto-day.”
“Butthecatsdon’truninpacks,Granser,”Hoo-Hooobjected.
“Thecatwasneverasocialanimal. Asonewriterinthenineteenthcenturysaid,thecatwalksbyhimself. Healwayswalkedbyhimself,frombeforethetimehewastamedbyman,downthroughthelongagesofdomestication,toto-daywhenoncemoreheiswild.
“Thehorsesalsowentwild,andallthefinebreedswehaddegeneratedintothesmallmustanghorseyouknowto-day. Thecowslikewisewentwild,asdidthepigeonsandthesheep.Andthatafewofthechickenssurvivedyouknowyourself. Butthewildchickenofto-dayisquiteadifferentthingfromthechickenswehadinthosedays.
“ButImustgoonwithmystory. Itravelledthroughadesertedland. AsthetimewentbyIbegantoyearnmoreandmoreforhumanbeings. ButIneverfoundone,andIgrewlonelierandlonelier.
