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The She-Wolf
"Iain’tfeelin’specialenthusiastic,"Billpersisted.
"You’reoffcolour,that’swhat’sthematterwithyou,"Henrydogmatised. "Whatyouneedisquinine,an’I’mgoin’todoseyouupstiffassoonaswemakeMcGurry."
Billgruntedhisdisagreementwiththediagnosis,andlapsedintosilence. Thedaywaslikeallthedays. Lightcameatnineo’clock. Attwelveo’clockthesouthernhorizonwaswarmedbytheunseensun; andthenbeganthecoldgreyofafternoonthatwouldmerge,threehourslater,intonight.
Itwasjustafterthesun’sfutileefforttoappear,thatBillslippedtheriflefromunderthesled-lashingsandsaid:
"Youkeeprighton,Henry,I’mgoin’toseewhatIcansee."
"You’dbetterstickbythesled,"hispartnerprotested."You’veonlygotthreecartridges,an’there’snotellin’whatmighthappen."
"Who’scroakingnow?"Billdemandedtriumphantly.
Henrymadenoreply,andploddedonalone,thoughoftenhecastanxiousglancesbackintothegreysolitudewherehispartnerhaddisappeared. Anhourlater,takingadvantageofthecut-offsaroundwhichthesledhadtogo,Billarrived.
"They’rescatteredan’rangin’alongwide,"hesaid:"keepingupwithusan’lookin’forgameatthesametime. Yousee,they’resureofus,onlytheyknowthey’vegottowaittogetus. Inthemeantimethey’rewillin’topickupanythingeatablethatcomeshandy."
"Youmeantheythinkthey’resureofus,"Henryobjectedpointedly.
