야성의 절규(The Call of the Wild) - 8

  Spitz was a good fighter. He was full of hate and anger, but he was also intelligent. Every time Buck tried to bite his throat, he met Spitz's own teeth. Then, each time Buck attacked, Spitz moved and bit him on the side as he passed. After a few minutes, Buck was covered in blood. He attacked again, but this time turned at the last minute and went under Spitz, biting his left front leg. The bone broke, and Spitz was standing on three legs. Buck tried to knock Spitz down, and then repeated his earlier attack, and broke Spitz's right front leg.

  There was no hope for Spitz now. Buck got ready for his final attack, while the circle of sixty dogs watched, and crowded nearer and nearer, waiting for the end. At last Buck jumped, in and out, and Spitz went down in the snow. A second later the waiting pack was on top of him, and Spitz had disappeared. Buck stood and watched. The wild animal had made its kill.

 

특별히 어려운 지문은 없습니다. 스피츠의 결말이 왠지 끔찍하면서도 처연하죠. 승자와 패자의 입장에서 패자의 처연함, 어쩌면 동정심을 불러 일으키는 문장입니다. 조용한 승자와, 이제 무대에서 사라지는 스피츠. 이제 벅이 야생세계에 본격적으로 뛰어들게 됩니다.