Мауглі

           "Whospeaksforthiscub?"saidAkela. "AmongtheFreePeoplewhospeaks?" TherewasnoanswerandMotherWolfgotreadyforwhatsheknewwouldbeherlastfight,ifthingscametofighting. 

           ThentheonlyothercreaturewhoisallowedatthePackCouncil—Baloo,thesleepybrownbearwhoteachesthewolfcubstheLawoftheJungle: oldBaloo,whocancomeandgowherehepleasesbecauseheeatsonlynutsandrootsandhoney—roseuponhishindquartersandgrunted. 

           "Theman’scub—theman’scub?"hesaid. "Ispeakfortheman’scub. Thereisnoharminaman’scub. Ihavenogiftofwords,butIspeakthetruth. LethimrunwiththePack,andbeenteredwiththeothers. Imyselfwillteachhim." 

           "Weneedyetanother,"saidAkela. "Baloohasspoken,andheisourteacherfortheyoungcubs. WhospeaksbesidesBaloo?" 

           Ablackshadowdroppeddownintothecircle. ItwasBagheeratheBlackPanther,inkyblackallover,butwiththepanthermarkingsshowingupincertainlightslikethepatternofwateredsilk. EverybodyknewBagheera,andnobodycaredtocrosshispath;forhewasascunningasTabaqui,asboldasthewildbuffalo,andasrecklessasthewoundedelephant. Buthehadavoiceassoftaswildhoneydrippingfromatree,andaskinsofterthandown. 

           "OAkela,andyetheFreePeople,"hepurred,"Ihavenorightinyourassembly,buttheLawoftheJunglesaysthatifthereisadoubtwhichisnotakillingmatterinregardtoanewcub,thelifeofthatcubmaybeboughtataprice. AndtheLawdoesnotsaywhomayormaynotpaythatprice. AmIright?"