michael, brother of jerry-第31章

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Michael　was　impressed　by　his　surroundings　but　not　attracted　by　the　youth；　who　rolled　up　his　sleeves　and　encased　himself　in　large　oilskin　apron　before　he　opened　the　crate。　　Michael　sprang　out　and　staggered　about　on　legs　which　had　not　walked　for　days。　　This　particular　two…legged　god　was　uninteresting。　　He　was　as　cold　as　the　concrete　floor；　as　methodical　as　a　machine；　and　in　such　fashion　he　went　about　the　washing；　scrubbing；　and　disinfecting　of　Michael。　　For　Harris　Collins　was　scientific　and　antiseptic　to　the　last　word　in　his　handling　of　animals；　and　Michael　was　scientifically　made　clean；　without　deliberate　harshness；　but　without　any　slightest　hint　of　gentleness　or　consideration。

Naturally；　he　did　not　understand。　　On　top　of　all　he　had　already　experienced；　not　even　knowing　executioners　and　execution　chambers；　for　all　he　knew　this　bare　room　of　cement　and　chemical　smell　might　well　be　the　place　of　the　ultimate　life…disaster　and　this　youth　the　god　who　was　to　send　him　into　the　dark　which　had　engulfed　all　he　had　known　and　loved。　　What　Michael　did　know　beyond　the　shadow　of　any　doubt　was　that　it　was　all　coldly　ominous　and　terribly　strange。　He　endured　the　hand　of　the　youth…god　on　the　scruff　of　his　neck；　after　the　collar　had　been　unbuckled；　but　when　the　hose　was　turned　on　him；　he　resented　and　resisted。　　The　youth；　merely　working　by　formula；　tightened　the　safe　grip　on　the　scruff　of　Michael's　neck　and　lifted　him　clear　of　the　floor；　at　the　same　time；　with　the　other　hand；　directing　the　stream　of　water　into　his　mouth　and　increasing　it　to　full　force　by　the　nozzle　control。　　Michael　fought；　and　was　well　drowned　for　his　pains；　until　he　gasped　and　strangled　helplessly。

After　that　he　resisted　no　more；　and　was　washed　out　and　scrubbed　out　and　cleansed　out　with　the　hose；　a　big　bristly　brush；　and　much　carbolic　soap；　the　lather　of　which　got　into　and　stung　his　eyes　and　nose；　causing　him　to　weep　copiously　and　sneeze　violently。　Apprehensive　of　what　might　at　any　moment　happen　to　him；　but　by　this　time　aware　that　the　youth　was　neither　positive　nor　negative　for　kindness　or　harm；　Michael　continued　to　endure　without　further　battling；　until；　clean　and　comfortable；　he　was　put　away　into　a　pen；　sweet　and　wholesome；　where　he　slept　and　for　the　time　being　forgot。　　The　place　was　the　hospital；　or　segregation　ward；　and　a　week　of　imprisonment　was　spent　therein；　in　which　nothing　happened　in　the　way　of　development　of　germ　diseases；　and　nothing　happened　to　him　except　regular　good　food；　pure　drinking…water；　and　absolute　isolation　from　contact　with　all　life　save　the　youth…god　who；　like　an　automaton；　attended　on　him。

Michael　had　yet　to　meet　Harris　Collins；　although；　from　a　distance；　often　he　heard　his　voice；　not　loud；　but　very　imperative。　　That　the　owner　of　this　voice　was　a　high　god；　Michael　knew　from　the　first　sound　of　it。　　Only　a　high　god；　a　master　over　ordinary　gods；　could　be　so　imperative。　　Will　was　in　that　voice；　and　accustomedness　to　command。　　Any　dog　would　have　so　decided　as　quickly　as　Michael　did。　And　any　dog　would　have　decided　that　there　was　no　love　nor　lovableness　in　the　god　behind　the　voice；　nothing　to　warm　one's　heart　nor　to　adore。



CHAPTER　XXV



It　was　at　eleven　in　the　morning　that　the　pale　youth…god　put　collar　and　chain　on　Michael；　led　him　out　of　the　segregation　ward；　and　turned　him　over　to　a　dark　youth…god　who　wasted　no　time　of　greeting　on　him　and　manifested　no　friendliness。　　A　captive　at　the　end　of　a　chain；　on　the　way　Michael　quickly　encountered　other　captives　going　in　his　direction。　　There　were　three　of　them；　and　never　had　he　seen　the　like。　　Three　slouching；　ambling　monsters　of　bears　they　were；　and　at　sight　of　them　Michael　bristled　and　uttered　the　lowest　of　growls；　for　he　knew　them；　out　of　his　heredity　（as　a　domestic　cow　knows　her　first　wolf）；　as　immemorial　enemies　from　the　wild。　　But　he　had　travelled　too　far；　seen　too　much；　and　was　altogether　too　sensible；　to　attack　them。　　Instead；　walking　stiff…legged　and　circumspectly；　but　smelling　with　all　his　nose　the　strange　scent　of　the　creatures；　he　followed　at　the　end　of　his　chain　his　own　captor　god。

Continually　a　multitude　of　strange　scents　invaded　his　nostrils。　Although　he　could　not　see　through　walls；　he　got　the　smells　he　was　later　to　identify　of　lions；　leopards；　monkeys；　baboons；　and　seals　and　sea…lions。　　All　of　which　might　have　stunned　an　ordinary　dog；　but　the　effect　on　him　was　to　make　him　very　alert　and　at　the　same　time　very　subdued。　　It　was　as　if　he　walked　in　a　new　and　monstrously　populous　jungle　and　was　unacquainted　with　its　ways　and　denizens。

As　he　was　entering　the　arena；　he　shied　off　to　the　side　more　stiff…　leggedly　than　ever；　bristled　all　along　his　neck　and　back；　and　growled　deep　and　low　in　his　throat。　　For；　emerging　from　the　arena；　came　five　elephants。　　Small　elephants　they　were；　but　to　him　they　were　the　hugest　of　monsters；　in　his　mind　comparable　only　with　the　cow…whale　of　which　he　had　caught　fleeting　glimpses　when　she　destroyed　the　schooner　Mary　Turner。　　But　the　elephants　took　no　notice　of　him；　each　with　its　trunk　clutching　the　tail　of　the　one　in　front　of　it　as　it　had　been　taught　to　do　in　making　an　exit。

Into　the　arena；　he　came；　the　bears　following　on　his　heels。　　It　was　a　sawdust　circle　the　size　of　a　circus　ring；　contained　inside　a　square　building　that　was　roofed　over　with　glass。　　But　there　were　no　seats　about　the　ring；　since　spectators　were　not　tolerated。　Only　Harris　Collins　and　his　assistants；　and　buyers　and　sellers　of　animals　and　men　in　the　profession；　were　ever　permitted　to　behold　how　animals　were　tormented　into　the　performance　of　tricks　to　make　the　public　open　its　mouth　in　astonishment　or　laughter。

Michael　forgot　about　the　bears；　who　were　quickly　at　work　on　the　other　side　of　the　circle　from　that　to　which　he　was　taken。　　Some　men；　rolling　out　stout　bright…painted　barrels　which　elephants　could　not　crush　by　sitting　on；　attracted　his　attention　for　a　moment。　　Next；　in　a　pause　on　the　part　of　the　man　who　led　him；　he　regarded　with　huge　interest　a　piebald　Shetland　pony。　　It　lay　on　the　ground。　　A　man　sat　on　it。　　And　ever　and　anon　it　lifted　its　head　from　the　sawdust　and　kissed　the　man。　　This　was　all　Michael　saw；　yet　he　sensed　something　wrong　about　it。　　He　knew　not　why；　had　no　evidence　why；　but　he　felt　cruelty　and　power　and　unfairness。　What　he　did　not　see　was　the　long　pin　in　the　man's　hand。　　Each　time　he　thrust　this　in　the　pony's　shoulder；　the　pony；　stung　by　the　pain　and　reflex　action；　lifted　its　head；　and　the　man　was　deftly　ready　to　meet　the　pony's　mouth　with　his　own　mouth。　　To　an　audience　the　impression　would　be　that　in　such　fashion　the　pony　was　expressing　its　affection　for　the　master。

Not　a　dozen　feet　away　another　Shetland；　a　coal…black　one；　was　behaving　as　peculiarly　as　it　was　being　treated。　　Ropes　were　attached　to　its　forelegs；　each　rope　held　by　an　assistant；　who　jerked　on　the　same　stoutly　when　a　third　man；　standing　in　front　of　the　pony；　tapped　it　on　the　knees　with　a　short；　stiff　whip　of　rattan。　　Whereupon　the　pony　went　down　on　its　knees　in　the　sawdust　in　a　genuflection　to　the　man　with　the　whip。　　The　pony　did　not　like　it；　sometimes　so　successfully　resisting　with　spread；　taut　legs　and　mutinous　head…tossings；　as　to　overcome　the　jerk　of　the　ropes；　and；　at　the　same　time　wheeling；　to　fall　heavily　on　its　side　or　to　uprear　as　the　pull　on　the　ropes　was　relaxed。　　But　always　it　was　lined　up　again　to　face　the　man　who　rapped　its　knees　with　the　rattan。　　It　was　being　taught　merely　how　to　kneel　in　the　way　that　is　ever　a　delight　to　the　audiences　who　see　only　the　results　of　the　schooling　and　never　dream　of　the　manner　of　the　schooling。　　For；　as　Michael　was　quickly　sensing；　knowledge　was　here　learned　by　pain。　In　short；　this　was　the　college　of　pain；　this　Cedarwild　Animal　School。

Harris　Collins　himself　nodded　the　dark　youth…god　up　to　him；　and　turned　an　inquiring　and　estimating　gaze　on　Michael。

〃The　Del　Mar　dog；　sir；〃　said　the　youth…god。

Collins's　eyes　brightened；　and　he　looked　Michael　over　more　carefully。

〃Do　you　know　what　he　can　do？〃　he　queried。

The　youth　shook　his　head。

〃Harry　was　a　keen　one；〃　Collins　went　on；　apparently　to　the　youth…　god　but　mostly　for　his　own　benefit；　being　given　to　thinking　aloud。　〃He　picked　this　dog　as　a　winner。　　And　now　what　can　he　do？　　That's　the　question。　　Poor　Harry's　gone；　and　we　don't　know　what　he　can　do。Take　off　the　chain。〃

Released　Michael　regarded　the　master…god　and　waited　for　what　might　happen。　　A　squall　of　pain　from　one　of　the　bears　across　the　ring　hinted　to　him　what　he　might　expect。

〃Come　here；〃　Collins　commanded　in　his　cold；　hard　tones。

Michael　came　and　stood　before　him。

〃Lie　down！〃

Michael　lay　down；　although　he　did　it　slowly；　with　advertised　reluctance。

〃Damned　thoroughbred！〃　Collins　sneered　at　him。　　〃Won't　put　any　pep　into　your　motions；　eh？　　Well；　we'll　take　care　of　that。Get　up！　Lie　down！Get　up！Lie　down！Get　up！〃

His　commands　were　staccato；　like　revolver　shots　or　the　cracks　of　whips；　and　Michael　obeyed　them　in　his　same　slow；　reluctant　way。

〃Understands　English；　at　any　rate；〃　said　Collins。

〃Wonder　if　he　can　turn　the　double　flip；〃　he　added；　expressing　the　golden　dream　of　all　dog…trainers。　　〃Come　on；　we'll　try　him　for　a　flip。　　Put　the　chain　on　him。　　Come　over　here；　Jimmy。　　Put　another　lead　on　him。〃

Another　reform…school　graduate　youth　obeyed；　snapping　a　girth　about　Michael's　loins；　to　which　was　attached　a　thin　rope。

〃Line　him　up；〃　Collins　commanded。　　〃Ready？Go！〃

And　the　most　amazing；　astounding　indignity　was　wreaked　upon　Michael。　　At　the　word　〃Go！〃；　simultaneously；　the　chain　on　his　collar　jerked　him　up　and　back　in　the　air；　the　rope　on　his　hindquarters　jerked　that　portion　of　him　under；　forward；　and　up；　and　the　still　short　stick　in　Collins's　hand　hit　him　under　the　lower　jaw。　　Had　he　had　any　previous　experience　with　the　manoeuvre；　he　would　have　saved　himself　part　of　the　pain　at　least　by　springing　and　whirling　backward　in　the　air。　　As　it　was；　he　felt　as　if　being　torn　and　wrenched　apart　while　at　the　same　time　the　blow　under　his　jaw　stung　him　and　almost　dazed　him。　　And；　at　the　same　time；　whirled　violently　into　the　air；　he　fell　on　the　back　of　his　head　in　the　sawdust。

Out　of　the　sawdust　he　soared　in　rage；　neck…hair　erect；　throat　a…　snarl；　teeth　bared　to　bite；　and　he　would　have　sunk　his　teeth　into　the　flesh　of　the　master…god　had　he　not　been　the　slave　of　cunning　formula。　　The　two　youths　knew　their　work。　　One　tightened　the　lead　ahead；　the　other　to　the　rear；　and　Michael　snarled　and　bristled　his　impotent　wrath。　　Nothing　could　he　do；　neither　advance；　nor　retreat；　nor　whirl　sideways。　　The　youth　in　front　by　the　chain　prevented　him　from　attacking　the　youth　behind；　and　the　youth　behind；　with　the　rope；　prevented　him　from　attacking　the　youth　in　front；　and　both　prevented　him　from　attacking　Collins；　whom　he　knew　incontrovertibly　to　be　the　master　of　evil　and　hurt。

Michael's　wrath　was　as　superlative　as　was　his　helplessness。　　He　could　only　bristle　and　tear　his　vocal　chords　with　his　rage。　　But　it　was　a　very　ancient　and　boresome　experience　to　Collins。　　He　was　even　taking　advantage　of　the　moment　to　glance　across　the　arena　and　size　up　what　the　bears　were　doing。

〃Oh；　you　thoroughbred；〃　he　sneered　at　Michael；　returning　his　attention　to　him。　　〃Slack　him！　　Let　go！〃

The　instant　his　bonds　were　released；　Michael　soared　at　Collins；　and　Collins；　timing　and