Белый клык
The Battle of the Fangs
Theyweregazingattheshe-wolf,whosatsmilinginthesnow. Buttheelderleaderwaswise,verywise,inloveevenasinbattle. Theyoungerleaderturnedhisheadtolickawoundonhisshoulder. Thecurveofhisneckwasturnedtowardhisrival. Withhisoneeyetheeldersawtheopportunity. Hedartedinlowandclosedwithhisfangs. Itwasalong,rippingslash,anddeepaswell. Histeeth,inpassing,burstthewallofthegreatveinofthethroat. Thenheleapedclear.
Theyoungleadersnarledterribly,buthissnarlbrokemidmostintoaticklingcough. Bleedingandcoughing,alreadystricken,hesprangattheelderandfoughtwhilelifefadedfromhim, hislegsgoingweakbeneathhim,thelightofdaydullingonhiseyes,hisblowsandspringsfallingshorterandshorter.
Andallthewhiletheshe-wolfsatonherhaunchesandsmiled. Shewasmadegladinvaguewaysbythebattle,forthiswasthelove-makingoftheWild, thesex-tragedyofthenaturalworldthatwastragedyonlytothosethatdied. Tothosethatsurviveditwasnottragedy,butrealisationandachievement.
Whentheyoungleaderlayinthesnowandmovednomore,OneEyestalkedovertotheshe-wolf. Hiscarriagewasoneofmingledtriumphandcaution. Hewasplainlyexpectantofarebuff,andhewasjustasplainlysurprisedwhenherteethdidnotflashoutathiminanger. Forthefirsttimeshemethimwithakindlymanner. Shesniffednoseswithhim,andevencondescendedtoleapaboutandfriskandplaywithhiminquitepuppyishfashion. Andhe,forallhisgreyyearsandsageexperience,behavedquiteaspuppyishlyandevenalittlemorefoolishly.
Forgottenalreadywerethevanquishedrivalsandthelove-talered-writtenonthesnow.
