Белый клык
The Sleeping Wolf
Thelatterwasnottobecensuredforhismisjudgment. Allhislifehehadtendedandoperatedonthesofthumansofcivilisation,wholivedshelteredlivesandhaddescendedoutofmanyshelteredgenerations. ComparedwithWhiteFang,theywerefrailandflabby,andclutchedlifewithoutanystrengthintheirgrip. WhiteFanghadcomestraightfromtheWild,wheretheweakperishearlyandshelterisvouchsafedtonone. Inneitherhisfathernorhismotherwasthereanyweakness,norinthegenerationsbeforethem. AconstitutionofironandthevitalityoftheWildwereWhiteFang’sinheritance,andheclungtolife,thewholeofhimandeverypartofhim,inspiritandinflesh,withthetenacitythatofoldbelongedtoallcreatures.
Bounddownaprisoner,deniedevenmovementbytheplastercastsandbandages,WhiteFanglingeredouttheweeks. Hesleptlonghoursanddreamedmuch,andthroughhismindpassedanunendingpageantofNorthlandvisions. Alltheghostsofthepastaroseandwerewithhim. OnceagainhelivedinthelairwithKiche,crepttremblingtothekneesofGreyBeavertotenderhisallegiance,ranforhislifebeforeLip-lipandallthehowlingbedlamofthepuppy-pack.
Heranagainthroughthesilence,huntinghislivingfoodthroughthemonthsoffamine; andagainheranattheheadoftheteam,thegut-whipsofMit-sahandGreyBeaversnappingbehind,theirvoicescrying "Ra!Raa!" whentheycametoanarrowpassageandtheteamclosedtogetherlikeafantogothrough. HelivedagainallhisdayswithBeautySmithandthefightshehadfought. Atsuchtimeshewhimperedandsnarledinhissleep,andtheythatlookedonsaidthathisdreamswerebad.
Buttherewasoneparticularnightmarefromwhichhesuffered—theclanking,clangingmonstersofelectriccarsthatweretohimcolossalscreaminglynxes.
