Белый клык
The Wall of the World
Thethingsnotaliveremainedalwaysinoneplace,butthelivethingsmovedabout,andtherewasnotellingwhattheymightdo. Thethingtoexpectofthemwastheunexpected,andforthishemustbeprepared.
Hetravelledveryclumsily. Heranintosticksandthings. Atwigthathethoughtalongwayoff,wouldthenextinstanthithimonthenoseorrakealonghisribs. Therewereinequalitiesofsurface. Sometimesheoversteppedandstubbedhisnose.Quiteasoftenheundersteppedandstubbedhisfeet. Thentherewerethepebblesandstonesthatturnedunderhimwhenhetroduponthem; andfromthemhecametoknowthatthethingsnotalivewerenotallinthesamestateofstableequilibriumaswashiscave —also,thatsmallthingsnotaliveweremoreliablethanlargethingstofalldownorturnover. Butwitheverymishaphewaslearning. Thelongerhewalked,thebetterhewalked. Hewasadjustinghimself. Hewaslearningtocalculatehisownmuscularmovements,toknowhisphysicallimitations, tomeasuredistancesbetweenobjects,andbetweenobjectsandhimself.
Hiswastheluckofthebeginner. Borntobeahunterofmeat(thoughhedidnotknowit), heblundereduponmeatjustoutsidehisowncave-dooronhisfirstforayintotheworld. Itwasbysheerblunderingthathechancedupontheshrewdlyhiddenptarmigannest. Hefellintoit. Hehadessayedtowalkalongthetrunkofafallenpine. Therottenbarkgavewayunderhisfeet, andwithadespairingyelphepitcheddowntheroundedcrescent,smashedthroughtheleafageandstalksofasmallbush, andintheheartofthebush,ontheground,fetchedupinthemidstofsevenptarmiganchicks.
Theymadenoises,andatfirsthewasfrightenedatthem. Thenheperceivedthattheywereverylittle,andhebecamebolder. Theymoved. Heplacedhispawonone,anditsmovementswereaccelerated.
