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The Dominant Primordial Beast
Andsuchistheparadoxofliving,thisecstasycomeswhenoneismostalive,anditcomesasacompleteforgetfulnessthatoneisalive. Thisecstasy,thisforgetfulnessofliving,comestotheartist,caughtupandoutofhimselfinasheetofflame; itcomestothesoldier,war-madonastrickenfieldandrefusingquarter; anditcametoBuck,leadingthepack,soundingtheoldwolf-cry,strainingafterthefoodthatwasaliveandthatfledswiftlybeforehimthroughthemoonlight. Hewassoundingthedeepsofhisnature,andofthepartsofhisnaturethatweredeeperthanhe,goingbackintothewombofTime. Hewasmasteredbythesheersurgingoflife,thetidalwaveofbeing,theperfectjoyofeachseparatemuscle,joint,andsinewinthatitwaseverythingthatwasnotdeath,thatitwasaglowandrampant,expressingitselfinmovement,flyingexultantlyunderthestarsandoverthefaceofdeadmatterthatdidnotmove.
ButSpitz,coldandcalculatingeveninhissuprememoods,leftthepackandcutacrossanarrowneckoflandwherethecreekmadealongbendaround. Buckdidnotknowofthis,andasheroundedthebend,thefrostwraithofarabbitstillflittingbeforehim,hesawanotherandlargerfrostwraithleapfromtheoverhangingbankintotheimmediatepathoftherabbit. ItwasSpitz. Therabbitcouldnotturn,andasthewhiteteethbrokeitsbackinmidairitshriekedasloudlyasastrickenmanmayshriek.