Білий ікол
The Wall of the World
Allthefightingbloodofhisbreedwasupinhimandsurgingthroughhim. Thiswasliving,thoughhedidnotknowit. Hewasrealisinghisownmeaningintheworld;hewasdoingthatforwhichhewasmade —killingmeatandbattlingtokillit. Hewasjustifyinghisexistence,thanwhichlifecandonogreater; forlifeachievesitssummitwhenitdoestotheuttermostthatwhichitwasequippedtodo.
Afteratime,theptarmiganceasedherstruggling. Hestillheldherbythewing, andtheylayonthegroundandlookedateachother. Hetriedtogrowlthreateningly,ferociously. Shepeckedonhisnose,whichbynow,whatofpreviousadventureswassore. Hewincedbutheldon. Shepeckedhimagainandagain. Fromwincinghewenttowhimpering. Hetriedtobackawayfromher,oblivioustothefactthatbyhisholdonherhedraggedherafterhim. Arainofpecksfellonhisill-usednose. Thefloodoffightebbeddowninhim, and,releasinghisprey,heturnedtailandscamperedonacrosstheopeniningloriousretreat.
Helaydowntorestontheothersideoftheopen,neartheedgeofthebushes,histonguelollingout,hischestheavingandpanting,hisnosestillhurtinghimandcausinghimtocontinuehiswhimper. Butashelaythere,suddenlytherecametohimafeelingasofsomethingterribleimpending. Theunknownwithallitsterrorsrusheduponhim,andheshrankbackinstinctivelyintotheshelterofthebush. Ashedidso,adraughtofairfannedhim,andalarge,wingedbodysweptominouslyandsilentlypast. Ahawk,drivingdownoutoftheblue,hadbarelymissedhim.
Whilehelayinthebush,recoveringfromhisfrightandpeeringfearfullyout,themother-ptarmiganontheothersideoftheopenspaceflutteredoutoftheravagednest. Itwasbecauseofherlossthatshepaidnoattentiontothewingedboltofthesky.
