michael, brother of jerry-第43节

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es。　　You　see；　the　life　ain't　natural。　　And　when　they　do；　it's　good　night。　　You　lose　your　investment；　and；　if　you　don't　know　your　business；　maybe　your　life。〃

And　Michael　might　well　have　been　tried　out　on　Hannibal　and　have　lost　his　head　inside　that　animal's　huge　mouth；　had　not　the　good　fortune　of　apropos…ness　intervened。　　For；　the　next　moment；　Collins　was　listening　to　the　hasty　report　of　his　lion…and…tiger　keeper。　The　man　who　reported　was　possibly　forty　years　of　age；　although　he　looked　half　as　old　again。　　He　was　a　withered…faced　man；　whose　face…lines；　deep　and　vertical；　looked　as　if　they　had　been　clawed　there　by　some　beast　other　than　himself。

〃Old　Hannibal　is　going　crazy；〃　was　the　burden　of　his　report。

〃Nonsense；〃　said　Harris　Collins。　　〃It's　you　that's　getting　old。　He's　got　your　goat；　that's　all。　　I'll　show　it　to　you。Come　on　along；　all　of　you。　　We'll　take　fifteen　minutes　off　of　the　work；　and　I'll　show　you　a　show　never　seen　in　the　show…ring。　　It'd　be　worth　ten　thousand　a　week　anywhere　。　。　。　only　it　wouldn't　last。　Old　Hannibal　would　turn　up　his　toes　out　of　sheer　hurt　feelings。　Come　on　everybody！　　All　hands！　　Fifteen　minutes　recess！〃

And　Michael　followed　at　the　heels　of　his　latest　and　most　terrible　master；　the　twain　leading　the　procession　of　employees　and　visiting　professional　animal　men　who　trooped　along　behind。　　As　was　well　known；　when　Harris　Collins　performed　he　performed　only　for　the　elite；　for　the　hoi…polloi　of　the　trained…animal　world。

The　lion…and…tiger　man；　who　had　clawed　his　own　face　with　the　beast…claws　of　his　nature；　whimpered　protest　when　he　saw　his　employer's　preparation　to　enter　Hannibal's　cage；　for　the　preparation　consisted　merely　in　equipping　himself　with　a　broom…　handle。

Hannibal　was　old；　but　he　was　reputed　the　largest　lion　in　captivity；　and　he　had　not　lost　his　teeth。　　He　was　pacing　up　and　down　the　length　of　his　cage；　heavily　and　swaying；　after　the　manner　of　captive　animals；　when　the　unexpected　audience　erupted　into　the　space　before　his　cage。　　Yet　he　took　no　notice　whatever；　merely　continuing　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　d