Білий ікол

           Andtherecameadaywhenthehawk’sshadowdidnotdrivehimcrouchingintothebushes. Hehadgrownstrongerandwiser,andmoreconfident. Also,hewasdesperate. Sohesatonhishaunches,conspicuouslyinanopenspace,andchallengedthehawkdownoutofthesky. Forheknewthatthere,floatingintheblueabovehim,wasmeat,themeathisstomachyearnedaftersoinsistently. Butthehawkrefusedtocomedownandgivebattle,andthecubcrawledawayintoathicketandwhimperedhisdisappointmentandhunger. 

           Thefaminebroke. Theshe-wolfbroughthomemeat. Itwasstrangemeat,differentfromanyshehadeverbroughtbefore. Itwasalynxkitten,partlygrown,likethecub,butnotsolarge. Anditwasallforhim. Hismotherhadsatisfiedherhungerelsewhere;thoughhedidnotknowthatitwastherestofthelynxlitterthathadgonetosatisfyher. Nordidheknowthedesperatenessofherdeed. Heknewonlythatthevelvet-furredkittenwasmeat, andheateandwaxedhappierwitheverymouthful. 

           Afullstomachconducestoinaction,andthecublayinthecave,sleepingagainsthismother’sside. Hewasarousedbyhersnarling. Neverhadheheardhersnarlsoterribly. Possiblyinherwholelifeitwasthemostterriblesnarlsheevergave. Therewasreasonforit,andnoneknewitbetterthanshe. Alynx’slairisnotdespoiledwithimpunity. Inthefullglareoftheafternoonlight,crouchingintheentranceofthecave,thecubsawthelynx-mother. Thehairrippledupalonghisbackatthesight. Herewasfear,anditdidnotrequirehisinstincttotellhimofit. Andifsightalonewerenotsufficient,thecryofragetheintrudergave,beginningwithasnarlandrushingabruptlyupwardintoahoarsescreech,wasconvincingenoughinitself.