Маугли
The White Seal
"Goodsport,gentlemen?"ThebigthingsansweredbybowingandwavingtheirflippersliketheFrogFootman.WhentheybeganfeedingagainKoticksawthattheirupperlipwassplitintotwopiecesthattheycouldtwitchapartaboutafootandbringtogetheragainwithawholebushelofseaweedbetweenthesplits.Theytuckedthestuffintotheirmouthsandchumpedsolemnly.
"Messystyleoffeeding,that,"saidKotick.Theybowedagain,andKotickbegantolosehistemper."Verygood,"hesaid."Ifyoudohappentohaveanextrajointinyourfrontflipperyouneedn’tshowoffso.Iseeyoubowgracefully,butIshouldliketoknowyournames."Thesplitlipsmovedandtwitched;andtheglassygreeneyesstared,buttheydidnotspeak.
"Well!"saidKotick."You’retheonlypeopleI’veevermetuglierthanSeaVitch—andwithworsemanners."
ThenherememberedinaflashwhattheBurgomastergullhadscreamedtohimwhenhewasalittleyearlingatWalrusIslet,andhetumbledbackwardinthewater,forheknewthathehadfoundSeaCowatlast.
Theseacowswentonschloopingandgrazingandchumpingintheweed,andKotickaskedthemquestionsineverylanguagethathehadpickedupinhistravels;andtheSeaPeopletalknearlyasmanylanguagesashumanbeings.ButtheseacowsdidnotanswerbecauseSeaCowcannottalk.Hehasonlysixbonesinhisneckwhereheoughttohaveseven,andtheysayundertheseathatthatpreventshimfromspeakingeventohiscompanions.
