michael, brother of jerry-第46章

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n's　voice　rang　out。　　They　separated；　and；　despite　the　rumbling　of　low　growling　in　their　throats；　refrained　from　attacking　each　other　as　they　plunged　out　to　the　ground。　　The　little　set…to　had　occurred　in　so　few　seconds；　or　fractions　of　seconds；　that　they　had　not　begun　to　betray　recognition　of　each　other　until　they　were　out　of　the　machine。　They　were　still　comically　stiff…legged　and　bristly　as　they　aloofly　sniffed　noses。

〃They　know　each　other！〃　Villa　cried。　　〃Let's　wait　and　see　what　they　will　do。〃

As　for　Michael；　he　accepted；　without　surprise；　the　indubitable　fact　that　Jerry　had　come　back　out　of　the　Nothingness。　　Things　of　this　sort　had　begun　to　happen　rapidly；　but　it　was　not　the　things　themselves；　but　the　connotations　of　them；　that　almost　stunned　him。　If　the　man　and　woman；　whom　he　had　last　seen　at　Tulagi；　and；　likewise；　Jerry；　had　come　back　from　the　Nothingness；　then　could　come；　and　might　come　at　any　moment；　the　beloved　Steward。

Instead　of　responding　to　Jerry；　Michael　sniffed　and　glanced　about　in　quest　of　Steward。　　Jerry's　first　expression　of　greeting　and　friendliness　took　the　form　of　a　desire　to　run。　　He　barked　invitation　to　his　brother；　scampered　away　half　a　dozen　jumps；　scampered　back；　and　dabbed　playfully　at　Michael　with　one　fore…paw　in　added　emphasis　of　invitation　ere　he　scampered　away　again。

For　so　many　years　had　Michael　not　run　with　another　dog；　that　at　first　Jerry's　invitation　had　little　meaning　to　him。　　Nevertheless；　such　running　was　an　habitual　expression　of　happiness　and　friendliness　in　dogdom；　and　especially　strong　had　been　his　inheritance　of　it　from　Terrence　and　Biddy；　the　noted　love…runners　of　the　Solomons。

The　next　time　Jerry　dabbed　at　him　with　a　paw；　barked；　and　scurried　away　in　an　enticing　semicircle；　Michael　started　involuntarily　though　slowly　after　him。　　But　Michael　did　not　bark；　and；　after　half　a　dozen　leaps；　he　came　to　a　full　stop　and　looked　to　Villa　and　Harley　for　permission。

〃All　right；　Michael；〃　Harley　called　heartily；　deliberately　turning　his　shoulder　in　the　non…interest　of　consent　as　he　extended　his　hand　to　help　Villa　from　the　machine。

Michael　sprang　away　again；　and　was　numbly　aware　of　an　ancient　joy　as　he　shouldered　Jerry　who　shouldered　against　him　as　they　ran　side　by　side。　　But　most　of　the　joy　was　Jerry's；　as　was　the　wildest　of　the　skurrying　and　the　racing　and　the　shouldering；　of　the　body…　wriggling；　and　ear…pricking；　and　yelping　cries。　　Also；　Jerry　barked；　and　Michael　did　not　bark。

〃He　used　to　bark；〃　said　Villa。

〃Much　more　than　Jerry；〃　Harley　supplemented。

〃Then　they　have　taken　the　bark　out　of　him；〃　she　concluded。　　〃He　must　have　gone　through　terrible　experiences　to　have　lost　his　bark。〃


The　green　California　spring　merged　into　tawny　summer；　as　Jerry；　ever　running　afield；　made　Michael　acquainted　with　the　farthest　and　highest　reaches　of　the　Kennan　ranch　in　the　Valley　of　the　Moon。　The　pageant　of　the　wild　flowers　vanished　until　all　that　lingered　on　the　burnt　hillsides　were　orange　poppies　faded　to　palest　gold；　and　Mariposa　lilies；　wind…blown　on　slender　stems　amidst　the　desiccated　grasses；　that　smouldered　like　ornate　spotted　moths　fluttering　in　rest　for　a　space　between　flight　and　flight。

And　Michael；　a　follower　always　where　the　exuberant　Jerry　led；　sought　throughout　the　passing　year　for　what　he　could　not　find。

〃Looking　for　something；　looking　for　something；〃　Harley　would　say　to　Villa。　　〃It　is　not　alive。　　It　is　not　here。　　Now　just　what　is　it　he　is　always　looking　for？〃

Steward　it　was；　and　Michael　never　found　him。　　The　Nothingness　held　him　and　would　not　yield　him　up；　although；　could　Michael　have　journeyed　a　ten…days'　steamer…journey　into　the　South　Pacific　to　the　Marquesas；　Steward　he　would　have　found；　and；　along　with　him；　Kwaque　and　the　Ancient　Mariner；　all　three　living　like　lotus…eaters　on　the　beach…paradise　of　Taiohae。　　Also；　in　and　about　their　grass…　thatched　bungalow　under　the　lofty　avocado　trees；　Michael　would　have　found　other　petcats；　and　kittens；　and　pigs；　donkeys　and　ponies；　a　pair　of　love…birds；　and　a　mischievous　monkey　or　two；　but　never　a　dog　and　never　a　cockatoo。　　For　Dag　Daughtry；　with　violence　of　language；　had　laid　a　taboo　upon　dogs。　　After　Killeny　Boy；　he　averred；　there　should　be　no　other　dog。　　And　Kwaque；　without　averring　anything　at　all；　resolutely　refrained　from　possessing　himself　of　the　white　cockatoos　brought　ashore　by　the　sailors　off　the　trading　schooners。

But　Michael　was　long　in　giving　over　his　search　for　Steward；　and；　running　the　mountain　trails　or　scrambling　and　sliding　down　into　the　deep　canyons；　was　ever　expectant　and　ready　for　Steward　to　step　forth　before　him；　or　to　pick　up　the　unmistakable　scent　that　would　lead　him　to　him。

〃Looking　for　something；　looking　for　something；〃　Harley　Kennan　would　chant　curiously；　as　he　rode　beside　Villa　and　observed　Michael's　unending　search。　　〃Now　Jerry's　after　rabbits；　and　fox…　trails；　but　you'll　notice　they　don't　interest　Michael　much。　They're　not　what　he's　after。　　He　behaves　like　one　who　has　lost　a　great　treasure　and　doesn't　know　where　he　lost　it　nor　where　to　look　for　it。〃

Much　Michael　learned　from　Jerry　of　the　varied　life　of　the　forest　and　fields。　　To　run　with　Jerry　seemed　the　one　pleasure　he　took；　for　he　never　played。　　Play　had　passed　out　of　him。　　He　was　not　precisely　morose　or　gloomy　from　his　years　on　the　trained…animal　stage　and　in　Harris　Collins's　college　of　pain；　but　he　was　sobered；　subdued。　　The　spring　and　the　spontaneity　had　gone　out　of　him。　Just　as　the　leopard　had　claw…marked　his　shoulder　so　that　damp　and　frosty　weather　made　the　pain　of　the　old　wound　come　back；　so　was　his　mind　marked　by　what　he　had　gone　through。　　He　liked　Jerry；　was　glad　to　be　with　him　and　to　run　with　him；　but　it　was　Jerry　who　was　ever　in　the　lead；　who　ever　raised　the　hue　and　cry　of　hunting　pursuit；　who　barked　indignation　and　eager　yearning　at　a　tree'd　squirrel　in　refuge　forty　feet　above　the　ground。　　Michael　looked　on　and　listened；　but　took　no　part　in　such　antics　of　enthusiasm。

In　the　same　way　he　looked　on　when　Jerry　fought　fearful　comic　battles　with　Norman　Chief；　the　great　Percheron　stallion。　　It　was　only　play；　for　Jerry　and　Norman　Chief　were　tried　friends；　and；　though　the　huge　horse；　ears　laid　back；　mouth　open　to　bite；　pursued　Jerry　in　mad　gyrations　all　about　the　paddock；　it　was　with　no　thought　of　inflicting　hurt；　but　merely　to　act　up　to　his　part　in　the　sham　battle。　　Yet　no　invitation　of　Jerry's　could　induce　Michael　to　join　in　the　fun。　　He　contented　himself　with　sitting　down　outside　the　rails　and　looking　on。

〃Why　play？〃　might　Michael　have　asked；　who　had　had　all　play　taken　out　of　him。

But　when　it　came　to　serious　work；　he　was　there　even　ahead　of　Jerry。　　On　account　of　foot…and…mouth　disease　and　of　hog…cholera；　strange　dogs　were　taboo　on　the　Kennan　ranch。　　It　did　not　take　Michael　long　to　learn　this；　and　stray　dogs　got　short　shrift　from　him。　　With　never　a　warning　bark　nor　growl；　in　deadly　silence；　he　rushed　them；　slashed　and　bit　them；　rolled　them　over　and　over　in　the　dust；　and　drove　them　from　the　place。　　It　was　like　nigger…　chasing；　a　service　to　perform　for　the　gods　whom　he　loved　and　who　willed　such　chasing。

No　wild　passion　of　love；　such　as　he　had　had　for　Steward；　did　he　bear　Villa　and　Harley；　but　he　did　develop　for　them　a　great；　sober　love。　　He　did　not　go　out　of　his　way　to　express　it　with　overtures　of　wrigglings　and　squirmings　and　whimpering　yelpings。　　Jerry　could　be　depended　upon　for　that。　　But　he　was　always　seriously　glad　to　be　with　Villa　and　Harley　and　to　receive　recognition　from　them　next　after　Jerry。　　Some　of　his　deepest　moments　of　content；　before　the　fireplace；　were　to　sit　beside　Villa　or　Harley　and　lean　his　head　against　a　knee　and　have　a　hand；　on　occasion；　drop　down　on　his　head　or　gently　twist　his　crinkled　ear。

Jerry　was　even　guilty　of　playing　with　children　who　happened　at　times　to　be　under　the　Kennan　aegis。　　Michael　endured　children　for　as　long　as　they　left　him　alone。　　If　they　waxed　familiar；　he　would　warn　them　with　a　bristling　of　his　neck…hair　and　a　throaty　rumbling　and　get　up　and　stalk　away。

〃I　can't　understand　it；〃　Villa　would　say。　　〃He　was　the　fullest　of　play；　and　spirits；　and　all　foolishness。　　He　was　much　sillier　and　much　more　excitable　than　Jerry　and　certainly　noisier。　　He　must　have　some　terrible　story　to　tell；　if　only　he　could；　of　all　that　happened　between　Tulagi　and　the　time　we　found　him　on　the　Orpheum　stage。〃

〃And　that　may　be　the　least　little　hint　of　it；〃　Harley　would　reply；　pointing　to　Michael's　shoulder　where　the　leopard　had　scarred　it　on　the　day　Jack；　the　Airedale；　and　Sara；　the　little　green　monkey；　had　died。

〃He　used　to　bark；　I　know　he　used　to　bark；〃　Villa　would　continue。　〃Why　doesn't　he　bark　now？〃

And　Harley　would　point　to　the　scarred　shoulder　and　say；　〃That　may　account　for　it；　and　most　possibly　a　hundred　other　things　like　it　of　which　we　cannot　see　the　marks。〃

But　the　time　was　to　come　when　they　were　to　hear　him　bark　again　not　once；　but　twice。　　And　both　times　were　to　be　but　an　earnest　of　another　and　graver　time　when；　without　barking　at　all；　he　would　express　in　action　the　measure　of　his　love　and　worship　of　them　who　had　taken　him　from　the　crate　and　the　footlights　and　given　him　the　freedom　of　the　Valley　of　the　Moon。

And　in　the　meantime；　running　endlessly　with　Jerry　over　the　ranch；　he　learned　all　the　ways　of　it　and　all　the　life　of　it　from　the　chickenyards　and　the　duck…ponds　to　the　highest　pitch　of　Sonoma　Mountain。　　He　learned　where　the　wild　deer；　in　their　season；　were　to　be　found；　when　they　raided　the　prune…orchard；　the　vineyards；　and　the　apple…trees；　when　they　sought　the　deepest　canyons　and　most　secret　coverts；　and　when　they　stamped　out　in　open　glades　and　on　bare　hillsides　and　crashed　and　clattered　their　antlers　together　in　combat。　　Under　Jerry's　leadership；　always　running　second　and　after　on　the　narrow　trails　as　a　subdued　dog　should；　he　learned　the　ways　and　habits　of　the　foxes；　the　coons；　the　weasels；　and　the　ring…tail　cats　that　seemed　compounded　of　cat　and　coon　and　weasel。　　He　came　to　know　the　ground…nesting　birds　and　the　difference　between　the　customs　of　the　valley　quail；　the　mountain　quail；　and　the　pheasants。　　The　traits　and　lairs　of　the　domestic　cats　gone　wild　he　also　learned；　as　did　he　learn　the　wild　loves　of　mountain　farm…dogs　with　the　free…roving　coyotes。

He　knew　of　the　presence　of　the　mountain　lion；　adrift　down　from　Mendocino　County；　ere　the　first　shorthorn　calf　was　slain；　and　came　home　from　the　encounter；　torn　and　bleeding；　to　attest　what　he　had　discovered　and　to　be　the　cause　of　Harley　Kennan　riding　trail　next　day　with　a　rifle　across　his　pommel。　　Likewise　Michael　came　to　know　what　Harley　Kennan　never　did　know　and　always　denied　as　existing　on　his　ranchthe　one　rocky　outcrop；　in　the　dense　heart　of　the　mountain　forest；　where　a　score　of　rattlesnakes　denned　through　the　winters　and　warmed　themselves　in　the　sun。



CHAPTER　XXXVI



Winter　came　on　in　its　delectable　way　in　the　Valley　of　the　Moon。　The　last　Mariposa　lily　vanished　from　the　burnt　grasses　as　the　California　Indian　summer　dreamed　itself　out　in　purple　mists　on　the　windless　air。　　Soft　rain…showers　first　broke　the　spell。　　Snow　fell　on　the　summit　of　Sonoma　Mountain。　　At　the　ranch　house　the　morning　air　was　crisp　and　brittle；　yet　midday　made　the　shade　welcome；　and　in　the　open；　under　the　winter　sun；　roses　bloomed　and　oranges；　grape…fru