Білий ікол
The She-Wolf
"Standsprettyclosetotwofeetan’ahalfattheshoulders,"Henrycommented. "An’I’llbetitain’tfarfromfivefeetlong."
"Kindofstrangecolourforawolf,"wasBill’scriticism."Ineverseenaredwolfbefore. Looksalmostcinnamontome."
Theanimalwascertainlynotcinnamon-coloured.Itscoatwasthetruewolf-coat. Thedominantcolourwasgrey,andyettherewastoitafaintreddishhue—ahuethatwasbaffling,thatappearedanddisappeared, thatwasmorelikeanillusionofthevision,nowgrey,distinctlygrey, andagaingivinghintsandglintsofavaguerednessofcolournotclassifiableintermsofordinaryexperience.
"Looksforalltheworldlikeabighuskysled-dog,"Billsaid."Iwouldn’tbes’prisedtoseeitwagitstail."
"Hello,youhusky!"hecalled."Comehere,youwhatever-your-name-is."
"Ain’tabitscairtofyou,"Henrylaughed.
Billwavedhishandatitthreateninglyandshoutedloudly;buttheanimalbetrayednofear. Theonlychangeinitthattheycouldnoticewasanaccessionofalertness. Itstillregardedthemwiththemercilesswistfulnessofhunger. Theyweremeat,anditwashungry;anditwouldliketogoinandeatthemifitdared.
"Lookhere,Henry,"Billsaid,unconsciouslyloweringhisvoicetoawhisperbecauseofwhatheimitated."We’vegotthreecartridges. Butit’sadeadshot.Couldn’tmissit. It’sgotawaywiththreeofourdogs,an’weoughterputastoptoit.Whatd’yesay?"
Henrynoddedhisconsent. Billcautiouslyslippedthegunfromunderthesled-lashing. Thegunwasonthewaytohisshoulder,butitnevergotthere.
