Білий ікол

           Thiswasasourceofenjoymenttohim. Hesmelledit. Hepickeditupinhismouth. Itstruggledandtickledhistongue. Atthesametimehewasmadeawareofasensationofhunger. Hisjawsclosedtogether. Therewasacrunchingoffragilebones,andwarmbloodraninhismouth. Thetasteofitwasgood. Thiswasmeat,thesameashismothergavehim,onlyitwasalivebetweenhisteethandthereforebetter. Soheatetheptarmigan. Nordidhestoptillhehaddevouredthewholebrood. Thenhelickedhischopsinquitethesamewayhismotherdid,andbegantocrawloutofthebush. 

           Heencounteredafeatheredwhirlwind. Hewasconfusedandblindedbytherushofitandthebeatofangrywings. Hehidhisheadbetweenhispawsandyelped. Theblowsincreased. Themotherptarmiganwasinafury. Thenhebecameangry. Heroseup,snarling,strikingoutwithhispaws. Hesankhistinyteethintooneofthewingsandpulledandtuggedsturdily. Theptarmiganstruggledagainsthim,showeringblowsuponhimwithherfreewing. Itwashisfirstbattle. Hewaselated. Heforgotallabouttheunknown. Henolongerwasafraidofanything. Hewasfighting,tearingatalivethingthatwasstrikingathim. Also,thislivethingwasmeat. Thelusttokillwasonhim. Hehadjustdestroyedlittlelivethings. Hewouldnowdestroyabiglivething. Hewastoobusyandhappytoknowthathewashappy. Hewasthrillingandexultinginwaysnewtohimandgreatertohimthananyhehadknownbefore. 

           Heheldontothewingandgrowledbetweenhistight-clenchedteeth. Theptarmigandraggedhimoutofthebush. Whensheturnedandtriedtodraghimbackintothebush’sshelter,hepulledherawayfromitandonintotheopen. Andallthetimeshewasmakingoutcryandstrikingwithherfreewing,whilefeatherswereflyinglikeasnow-fall. Thepitchtowhichhewasarousedwastremendous.