Білий ікол

           Hecouldnotforgetinadayalltheevilthathadbeenwroughthimatthehandsofmen. Butitwasthewillofthegod,andhestrovetosubmit. 

           Thehandliftedanddescendedagaininapatting,caressingmovement. Thiscontinued,buteverytimethehandlifted,thehairliftedunderit. Andeverytimethehanddescended,theearsflatteneddownandacavernousgrowlsurgedinhisthroat. WhiteFanggrowledandgrowledwithinsistentwarning.Bythismeansheannouncedthathewaspreparedtoretaliateforanyhurthemightreceive. Therewasnotellingwhenthegod’sulteriormotivemightbedisclosed. Atanymomentthatsoft,confidence-inspiringvoicemightbreakforthinaroarofwrath,thatgentleandcaressinghandtransformitselfintoavice-likegriptoholdhimhelplessandadministerpunishment. 

           Butthegodtalkedonsoftly,andeverthehandroseandfellwithnon-hostilepats. WhiteFangexperienceddualfeelings. Itwasdistastefultohisinstinct.Itrestrainedhim,opposedthewillofhimtowardpersonalliberty. Andyetitwasnotphysicallypainful. Onthecontrary,itwasevenpleasant,inaphysicalway. Thepattingmovementslowlyandcarefullychangedtoarubbingoftheearsabouttheirbases,andthephysicalpleasureevenincreasedalittle. Yethecontinuedtofear,andhestoodonguard,expectantofunguessedevil,alternatelysufferingandenjoyingasonefeelingortheothercameuppermostandswayedhim. 

           "Well,I’llbegosh-swoggled!" 

           SospokeMatt,comingoutofthecabin,hissleevesrolledup,apanofdirtydish-waterinhishands,arrestedintheactofemptyingthepanbythesightofWeedonScottpattingWhiteFang. 

           Attheinstanthisvoicebrokethesilence,WhiteFangleapedback,snarlingsavagelyathim.