Маугли
Kaa’s Hunting
Whenthetwolistenedtohimhewasshoutingatthetopofhisvoice, "AndsoIshallhaveatribeofmyown,andleadthemthroughthebranchesalldaylong."
"Whatisthisnewfolly,littledreamerofdreams?"saidBagheera.
"Yes,andthrowbranchesanddirtatoldBaloo,"Mowgliwenton. "Theyhavepromisedmethis.Ah!"
"Whoof!"Baloo’sbigpawscoopedMowglioffBagheera’sback,andastheboylaybetweenthebigfore-pawshecouldseetheBearwasangry.
"Mowgli,"saidBaloo,"thouhastbeentalkingwiththeBandar-log—theMonkeyPeople."
MowglilookedatBagheeratoseeifthePantherwasangrytoo,andBagheera’seyeswereashardasjadestones.
"ThouhastbeenwiththeMonkeyPeople—thegrayapes—thepeoplewithoutalaw—theeatersofeverything. Thatisgreatshame."
"WhenBaloohurtmyhead,"saidMowgli(hewasstillonhisback),"Iwentaway,andthegrayapescamedownfromthetreesandhadpityonme. Nooneelsecared." Hesnuffledalittle.
"ThepityoftheMonkeyPeople!"Baloosnorted. "Thestillnessofthemountainstream! Thecoolofthesummersun! Andthen,man-cub?"
"Andthen,andthen,theygavemenutsandpleasantthingstoeat,andthey—theycarriedmeintheirarmsuptothetopofthetreesandsaidIwastheirbloodbrotherexceptthatIhadnotail,andshouldbetheirleadersomeday."
"Theyhavenoleader,"saidBagheera. "Theylie. Theyhavealwayslied."