Поклик предків
Into the Primitive
Hewasgladforonething:theropewasoffhisneck. Thathadgiventhemanunfairadvantage;butnowthatitwasoff,hewouldshowthem. Theywouldnevergetanotherropearoundhisneck. Uponthathewasresolved. Fortwodaysandnightsheneitheratenordrank,andduringthosetwodaysandnightsoftorment,heaccumulatedafundofwraththatbodedillforwhoeverfirstfellfoulofhim. Hiseyesturnedblood-shot,andhewasmetamorphosedintoaragingfiend. SochangedwashethattheJudgehimselfwouldnothaverecognizedhim;andtheexpressmessengersbreathedwithreliefwhentheybundledhimoffthetrainatSeattle.
Fourmengingerlycarriedthecratefromthewagonintoasmall,high-walledbackyard. Astoutman,witharedsweaterthatsaggedgenerouslyattheneck,cameoutandsignedthebookforthedriver. Thatwastheman,Buckdivined,thenexttormentor,andhehurledhimselfsavagelyagainstthebars. Themansmiledgrimly,andbroughtahatchetandaclub.
"Youain’tgoingtotakehimoutnow?"thedriverasked.
"Sure,"themanreplied,drivingthehatchetintothecrateforapry.
Therewasaninstantaneousscatteringofthefourmenwhohadcarrieditin,andfromsafeperchesontopthewalltheypreparedtowatchtheperformance.
Buckrushedatthesplinteringwood,sinkinghisteethintoit,surgingandwrestlingwithit. Whereverthehatchetfellontheoutside,hewasthereontheinside,snarlingandgrowling,asfuriouslyanxioustogetoutasthemanintheredsweaterwascalmlyintentongettinghimout.
"Now,youred-eyeddevil,"hesaid,whenhehadmadeanopeningsufficientforthepassageofBuck’sbody. Atthesametimehedroppedthehatchetandshiftedtheclubtohisrighthand.
