The Yearling Page #4

There, Julie.

- Her breathing's still short.

- I reckon she's lost a mite of blood.

- Where you taking her?

- Jody's room.

I'll not pop in and out of bed

all night awaking you. Good night, Ma.

Good night.

She'll live, won't she, Pa?

I'm certain she will, son.

- I'm bedding her here.

- You best sleep with me, Pa.

- I'm figuring that, if you'll have me.

- I'll have you.

Now don't you go visiting all night.

Get to sleep!

Yes, Ma.

- What makes you so wakeful, son?

- I can't stop walking.

We went a fair piece.

How you like going after bear?

- Well, I like thinking about it.

- I know.

I like the tracking and seeing

the saplings broke down.

- But the fighting's right fearsome?

- It's mighty fearsome.

It's got to be. It's a hard law,

but it's the law. Kill or go hungry.

I was proud the way

you come along with me, son.

Thanks, Pa.

- You cold, son?

- I reckon, Pa.

Well, move over a mite.

I'll warm you.

It's get me a new gun

or court trouble.

How? Where's the money coming from?

I'm aiming to trade

that new dog of ours for one.

- You said he were no-account.

- He ain't much good on a bear hunt.

But you know them Forresters

is fools for dogs.

Trading with them, you'd do good

to still have your britches.

They're a reckless, black-hearted lot.

Lower than a doodlebug!

- Fodderwing ain't! He's my friend.

- A fine friend, crazy as a loon!

He ain't crazy, Ma.

He's just different.

Anyway, that's where we're heading.

Get that worthless dog untied, Jody.

Will you want to tote lunch?

Why, I'd not insult

my neighbors that way.

- What you thinking, son?

- I ain't thinking.

Just feeling the sun, listening

to the birds and looking around?

That's what I'm doing, Pa.

That's right.

You glad you're gonna see Fodderwing?

I like Fodderwing.

He can't do no harm if you don't

take his talk seriously.

Fodderwing wouldn't do nobody no harm.

He ain't crazy like Ma says at all.

He ain't to blame for hatching out

peculiar. He was the second setting.

We're there. I can see smoke

coming out of the chimney.

Here, Perk! Here, Perk!

Come on, boy. Come.

- Is he hurt?

- Nope.

- Then why are we toting him?

- I don't want nothing to happen to him.

Well, boy, it sounds like we're here.

- You got no cause to say it was Bella!

- It was Bella.

- Don't go saving it was Bella!

- I seen him myself!

- It wasn't Bella!

- Or either Major or Sophy.

Say it's Sophy, I'll bust you!

Shut up! You're worse than the dogs!

I'll flail all of you myself!

You hear what your pa said?

Shut your mouth!

Look out, Ma, you'll hurt somebody

one of these days.

Why, look there!

- Is it safe for a guy to get down?

- It's Penny Baxter!

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