Маугли
The White Seal
I’vemetatleastahundredsealsfromLukannonBeach,househunting.Whycan’tpeoplestaywheretheybelong?"
"I’veoftenthoughtweshouldbemuchhappierifwehauledoutatOtterIslandinsteadofthiscrowdedplace,"saidMatkah.
"Bah!OnlytheholluschickiegotoOtterIsland.Ifwewenttheretheywouldsaywewereafraid.Wemustpreserveappearances,mydear."
SeaCatchsunkhisheadproudlybetweenhisfatshouldersandpretendedtogotosleepforafewminutes,butallthetimehewaskeepingasharplookoutforafight.Nowthatallthesealsandtheirwiveswereontheland,youcouldheartheirclamormilesouttoseaabovetheloudestgales.Atthelowestcountingtherewereoveramillionsealsonthebeach—oldseals,motherseals,tinybabies,andholluschickie,fighting,scuffling,bleating,crawling,andplayingtogether—goingdowntotheseaandcomingupfromitingangsandregiments,lyingovereveryfootofgroundasfarastheeyecouldreach,andskirmishingaboutinbrigadesthroughthefog.ItisnearlyalwaysfoggyatNovastoshnah,exceptwhenthesuncomesoutandmakeseverythinglookallpearlyandrainbow-coloredforalittlewhile.
Kotick,Matkah’sbaby,wasborninthemiddleofthatconfusion,andhewasallheadandshoulders,withpale,wateryblueeyes,astinysealsmustbe,buttherewassomethingabouthiscoatthatmadehismotherlookathimveryclosely.
"SeaCatch,"shesaid,atlast,"ourbaby’sgoingtobewhite!"
"Emptyclam-shellsanddryseaweed!"snortedSeaCatch.
