Маугли
Her Majesty’s Servants
"YoucouldputawholeregimentofDicksonmybackwithoutmakingmefeelanybetter.Iknowjustenoughtobeuncomfortable,andnotenoughtogooninspiteofit."
"Wedonotunderstand,"saidthebullocks.
"Iknowyoudon’t.I’mnottalkingtoyou.Youdon’tknowwhatbloodis."
"Wedo,"saidthebullocks."Itisredstuffthatsoaksintothegroundandsmells."
Thetroop-horsegaveakickandaboundandasnort.
"Don’ttalkofit,"hesaid."Icansmellitnow,justthinkingofit.Itmakesmewanttorun—whenIhaven’tDickonmyback."
"Butitisnothere,"saidthecamelandthebullocks."Whyareyousostupid?"
"It’svilestuff,"saidBilly."Idon’twanttorun,butIdon’twanttotalkaboutit."
"Thereyouare!"saidTwoTails,wavinghistailtoexplain.
"Surely.Yes,wehavebeenhereallnight,"saidthebullocks.
TwoTailsstampedhisfoottilltheironringonitjingled."Oh,I’mnottalkingtoyou.Youcan’tseeinsideyourheads."
"No.Weseeoutofourfoureyes,"saidthebullocks."Weseestraightinfrontofus."
"IfIcoulddothatandnothingelse,youwouldn’tbeneededtopullthebiggunsatall.IfIwaslikemycaptain—hecanseethingsinsidehisheadbeforethefiringbegins,andheshakesallover,butheknowstoomuchtorunaway—ifIwaslikehimIcouldpulltheguns.ButifIwereaswiseasallthatIshouldneverbehere.Ishouldbeakingintheforest,asIusedtobe,sleepinghalfthedayandbathingwhenIliked.