michael, brother of jerry-第39部分

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ontinuing　his　pacing；　swinging　his　head　from　side　to　side；　turning　lithely　at　each　end　of　his　cage；　with　all　the　air　of　being　bent　on　some　determined　purpose。

〃That's　the　way　he's　been　goin'　on　for　two　days；〃　whimpered　his　keeper。　　〃An'　when　you　go　near　'm；　he　just　reaches　for　you。　　Look　what　he　done　to　me。〃　　The　man　held　up　his　right　arm；　the　shirt　and　undershirt　ripped　to　shreds；　and　red　parallel　grooves；　slightly　clotted　with　blood；　showing　where　the　claws　had　broken　the　skin。　〃An'　I　wasn't　inside。　　He　did　it　through　the　bars；　with　one　swipe；　when　I　was　startin'　to　clean　his　cage。　　Now　if　he'd　only　roar；　or　something。　　But　he　never　makes　a　sound；　just　keeps　on　goin'　up　an'　down。〃

〃Where's　the　key？〃　Collins　demanded。　　〃Good。　　Now　let　me　in。　　And　lock　it　afterward　and　take　the　key　out。　　Lose　it；　forget　it；　throw　it　away。　　I'll　have　all　the　time　in　the　world　to　wait　for　you　to　find　it　to　let　me　out。〃

And　Harris　Collins；　a　sliver　of　a　less　than　a　light…weight　man；　who　lived　in　mortal　fear　that　at　table　the　mother　of　his　children　would　crown　him　with　a　plate　of　hot　soup；　went　into　the　cage；　before　the　critical　audience　of　his　employees　and　professional　visitors；　armed　only　with　a　broom…handle。　　Further；　the　door　was　locked　behind　him；　and；　the　moment　he　was　in；　keeping　a　casual　but　alert　eye　on　the　pacing　Hannibal；　he　reiterated　his　order　to　lock　the　door　and　remove　the　key。

Half　a　dozen　times　the　lion　paced　up　and　down；　declining　to　take　any　notice　of　the　intruder。　　And　then；　when　his　back　was　turned　as　he　went　down　the　cage；　Collins　stepped　directly　in　the　way　of　his　return　path　and　stood　still。　　Coming　back　and　finding　his　way　blocked；　Hannibal　did　not　roar。　　His　muscular　movements　sliding　each　into　the　next　like　so　much　silk　of　tawny　hide；　he　struck　at　the　obstacle　that　confronted　his　way。　　But　Collins；　knowing　ahead　of　the　lion　what　the　lion　was　going　to　do；　struck　first；　with　the　broom…handle　rapping　the　beast　on　its　tender　nose。　　Hannibal　recoiled　with　a　flash　of　snarl　and　flashed　back　a　second　sweeping　stroke　of　his　mighty　paw。　　Again　he　was　anticipated；　and　the　rap　on　his　nose　sent　him　into　recoil。

〃Got　to　keep　his　head　downthat　way　lies　safety；〃　the　master…　trainer　muttered　in　a　low；　tense　voice。

〃Ah；　would　you？　　Take　it；　then。〃

Hannibal；　in　wrath；　crouching　for　a　spring；　had　lifted　his　head。　The　consequent　blow　on　his　nose　forced　his　head　down　to　the　floor；　and　the　king　of　beasts；　nose　still　to　floor；　backed　away　with　mouth…snarls　and　throat…and…chest　noises。

〃Follow　up；〃　Collins　enunciated；　himself　following；　rapping　the　nose　again　sharply　and　accelerating　the　lion's　backward　retreat。

〃Man　is　the　boss　because　he's　got　the　head　that　thinks；〃　Collins　preached　the　lesson；　〃and　he's　just　got　to　make　his　head　boss　his　body；　that's　all；　so　that　he　can　think　one　thought　ahead　of　the　animal；　and　act　one　act　ahead。　　Watch　me　get　his　goat。　　He　ain't　the　hard　case　he's　trying　to　make　himself　believe　he　is。　　And　that　idea；　which　he's　just　starting；　has　got　to　be　taken　out　of　him。　The　broomstick　will　do　it。　　Watch。〃

He　backed　the　animal　down　the　length　of　the　cage；　continually　rapping　at　the　nose　and　keeping　it　down　to　the　floor。

〃Now　I'm　going　to　pile　him　into　the　corner。〃

And　Hannibal；　snarling；　growling；　and　spitting；　ducking　his　head　and　with　short　paw…strokes　trying　to　ward　off　the　insistent　broomstick；　backed　obediently　into　the　corner；　crumpled　up　his　hind…parts；　and　tried　to　withdraw　his　corporeal　body　within　itself　in　a　pain…urged　effort　to　make　it　smaller。　　And　always　he　kept　his　nose　down　and　himself　harmless　for　a　spring。　　In　the　thick　of　it　he　slowly　raised　his　nose　and　yawned。　　Nor；　because　it　came　up　slowly；　and　because　Collins　had　anticipated　the　yawn　by　being　one　thought　ahead　of　Hannibal　in　Hannibal's　own　brain；　was　the　nose　rapped。

〃That's　the　goat；〃　Collins　announced；　for　the　first　time　speaking　in　a　hearty　voice　in　which　was　no　vibration　of　strain。　　〃When　a　lion　yawns　in　the　thick　of　a　fight；　you　know　he　ain't　crazy。　　He's　sensible。　　He's　got　to　be　sensible；　or　he'd　be　springing　or　lashing　out　instead　of　yawning。　　He　knows　he's　licked；　and　that　yawn　of　his　merely　says：　　'I　quit。　　For　the　I　love　of　Mike　leave　me　alone。　　My　nose　is　awful　sore。　　I'd　like　to　get　you；　but　I　can't。　　I'll　do　anything　you　want；　and　I'll　be　dreadful　good；　but　don't　hit　my　poor　sore　nose。'

〃But　man　is　the　boss；　and　he　can't　afford　to　be　so　easy。　　Drive　the　lesson　home　that　you're　boss。　　Rub　it　in。　　Don't　stop　when　he　quits。　　Make　him　swallow　the　medicine　and　lick　the　spoon。　　Make　him　kiss　your　foot　on　his　neck　holding　him　down　in　the　dirt。　　Make　him　kiss　the　stick　that's　beaten　him。Watch！〃

And　Hannibal；　the　largest　lion　in　captivity；　with　all　his　teeth；　captured　out　of　the　jungle　after　he　was　full…grown；　a　veritable　king　of　beasts；　before　the　menacing　broomstick　in　the　hand　of　a　sliver　of　a　man；　backed　deeper　and　more　crumpled　together　into　the　corner。　　His　back　was　bowed　up；　the　very　opposite　muscular　position　to　that　for　a　spring；　while　he　drew　his　head　more　and　more　down　and　under　his　chest　in　utter　abjectness；　resting　his　weight　on　his　elbows　and　shielding　his　poor　nose　with　his　massive　paws；　a　single　stroke　of　which　could　have　ripped　the　life　of　Collins　quivering　from　his　body。

〃Now　he　might　be　tricky；〃　Collins　announced；　〃but　he's　got　to　kiss　my　foot　and　the　stick　just　the　same。　　Watch！〃

He　lifted　and　advanced　his　left　foot；　not　tentatively　and　hesitantly；　but　quickly　and　firmly；　bringing　it　to　rest　on　the　lion's　neck。　　The　stick　was　poised　to　strike；　one　act　ahead　of　the　lion's　next　possible　act；　as　Collins's　mind　was　one　thought　ahead　of　the　lion's　next　thought。

And　Hannibal　did　the　forecasted　and　predestined。　　His　head　flashed　up；　huge　jaws　distended；　fangs　gleaming；　to　sink　into　the　slender；　silken…hosed　ankle　above　the　tan　low…cut　shoes。　　But　the　fangs　never　sank。　　They　were　scarcely　started　a　fifth　of　the　way　of　the　distance；　when　the　waiting　broomstick　rapped　on　his　nose　and　made　him　sink　it　in　the　floor　under　his　chest　and　cover　it　again　with　his　paws。

〃He　ain't　crazy；〃　said　Collins。　　〃He　knows；　from　the　little　he　knows；　that　I　know　more　than　him　and　that　I've　got　him　licked　to　a　fare…you…well。　　If　he　was　crazy；　he　wouldn't　know；　and　I　wouldn't　know　his　mind　either；　and　I　wouldn't　be　that　one　jump　ahead　of　him；　and　he'd　get　me　and　mess　the　whole　cage　up　with　my　insides。〃

He　prodded　Hannibal　with　the　end　of　the　broom…handle；　after　each　prod　poising　it　for　a　stroke。　　And　the　great　lion　lay　and　roared　in　helplessness；　and　at　each　prod　exposed　his　nose　more　and　lifted　it　higher；　until；　at　the　end；　his　red　tongue　ran　out　between　his　fangs　and　licked　the　boot　resting　none　too　gently　on　his　neck；　and；　after　that；　licked　the　broomstick　that　had　administered　all　the　punishment。

〃Going　to　be　a　good　lion　now？〃　Collins　demanded；　roughly　rubbing　his　foot　back　and　forth　on　Hannibal's　neck。

Hannibal　could　not　refrain　from　growling　his　hatred。

〃Going　to　be　a　good　lion？〃　Collins　repeated；　rubbing　his　foot　back　and　forth　still　more　roughly。

And　Hannibal　exposed　his　nose　and　with　his　red　tongue　licked　again　the　tan　shoe　and　the　slender；　tan…silken　ankle　that　he　could　have　destroyed　with　one　crunch。



CHAPTER　XXVIII



One　friend　Michael　made　among　the　many　animals　he　encountered　in　the　Cedarwild　School；　and　a　strange；　sad　friendship　it　was。　　Sara　she　was　called；　a　small；　green　monkey　from　South　America；　who　seemed　to　have　been　born　hysterical　and　indignant；　and　with　no　appreciation　of　humour。　　Sometimes；　following　Collins　about　the　arena；　Michael　would　meet　her　while　she　waited　to　be　tried　out　on　some　new　turn。　　For；　unable　or　unwilling　to　try；　she　was　for　ever　being　tried　out　on　turns；　or；　with　little　herself　to　do；　as　a　filler…in　for　more　important　performers。

But　she　always　caused　confusion；　either　chattering　and　squealing　with　fright　or　bickering　at　the　other　animals。　　Whenever　they　attempted　to　make　her　do　anything；　she　protested　indignantly；　and　if　they　tried　force；　her　squalls　and　cries　excited　all　the　animals　in　the　arena　and　set　the　work　back。

〃Never　mind；〃　said　Collins　finally。　　〃She'll　go　into　the　next　monkey　band　we　make　up。〃

This　was　the　last　and　most　horrible　fate　that　could　befall　a　monkey　on　the　stage；　to　be　a　helpless　marionette；　compelled　by　unseen　sticks　and　wires；　poked　and　jerked　by　concealed　men；　to　move　and　act　throughout　an　entire　turn。

But　it　was　before　this　doom　was　passed　upon　her　that　Michael　made　her　acquaintance。　　Their　first　meeting；　she　sprang　suddenly　at　him；　a　screaming；　chattering　little　demon；　threatening　him　with　nails　and　teeth。　　And　Michael；　already　deep…sunk　in　habitual　moroseness　merely　looked　at　her　calmly；　not　a　ripple　to　his　neck…　hair　nor　a　prick　to　his　ears。　　The　next　moment；　her　fuss　and　fury　quite　ignored；　she　saw　him　turn　his　head　away。　　This　gave　her　pause。　　Had　he　sprung　at　her；　or　snarled；　or　shown　any　anger　or　resentment　such　as　did　the　other　dogs　when　so　treated　by　her；　she　would　have　screamed　and　screeched　and　raised　a　hubbub　of　expostulation；　crying　for　help　and　calling　all　men　to　witness　how　she　was　being　unwarrantably　attacked。

As　it　was；　Michael's　unusual　behaviour　seemed　to　fascinate　her。　She　approached　him　tentatively；　without　further　racket；　and　the　boy　who　had　her　in　charge　slacked　the　thin　chain　that　held　her。

〃Hope　he　breaks　her　back　for　her；〃　was　his　unholy　wish；　for　he　hated　Sara　intensely；　desiring　to　be　with　the　lions　or　elephants　rather　than　dancing　attendance　on　a　cantankerous　female　monkey　there　was　no　reasoning　with。

And　because　Michael　took　no　notice　of　her；　she　made　up　to　him。　　It　was　not　long　before　she　had　her　hands　on　him；　and；　quickly　after　that；　an　arm　around　his　neck　and　her　head　snuggled　against　his。　Then　began　her　interminable　tale。　　Day　after　day；　catching　him　at　odd　times　in　the　ring；　she　would　cling　closely　to　him　and　in　a　low　voice；　running　on　and　on；　never　pausing　for　breath；　tell　him；　for　all　he　knew；　the　story　of　her　life。　　At　any　rate；　it　sounded　like　the　story　of　her　woes　and　of　all　the　indignities　which　had　been　wreaked　upon　her。　　It　was　one　long　complaint；　and　some　of　it　might　have　been　about　her　health；　for　she　sniffed　and　coughed　a　great　deal　and　her　chest　seeme