beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第16章
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disconsolate animal suddenly discovered an appliance in which the most
luxuriously contrived piggeries were notably deficient。 The sharp edge
of the underneath part of the bed was pitched at exactly the right
elevation to permit the pigling to scrape himself ecstatically backwards
and forwards； with an artistic humping of the back at the crucial moment
and an accompanying gurgle of long…drawn delight。 The gamecock；
who may have fancied that he was being rocked in the branches of a
pine…tree； bore the motion with greater fortitude than Latimer was able
to command。 A series of slaps directed at the pig's body were accepted
more as an additional and pleasing irritant than as a criticism of conduct
or a hint to desist； evidently something more than a man's firm hand
was needed to deal with the case。 Latimer slipped out of bed in search
of a weapon of dissuasion。 There was sufficient light in the room to
enable the pig to detect this manoeuvre； and the vile temper； inherited
from the drowned mother； found full play。 Latimer bounded back
into bed； and his conqueror； after a few threatening snorts and
champings of its jaws； resumed its massage operations with renewed
zeal。 During the long wakeful hours which ensued Latimer tried to
distract his mind from his own immediate troubles by dwelling with
decent sympathy on the second housemaid's bereavement； but he
found himself more often wondering how many Boy Scouts were
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BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
sharing his Melton overcoat。 The role of Saint Martin malgre lui was
not one which appealed to him。
Towards dawn the pigling fell into a happy slumber； and Latimer
might have followed its example； but at about the same time Stupor
Hartlepooli gave a rousing crow； clattered down to the floor and
forthwith commenced a spirited combat with his reflection in the
wardrobe mirror。 Remembering that the bird was more or less under
his care Latimer performed Hague Tribunal offices by draping a bath…
towel over the provocative mirror； but the ensuing peace was local and
short…lived。 The deflected energies of the gamecock found new outlet
in a sudden and sustained attack on the sleeping and temporarily
inoffensive pigling； and the duel which followed was desperate and
embittered beyond any possibility of effective intervention。 The
feathered combatant had the advantage of being able； when hard pressed；
to take refuge on the bed； and freely availed himself of this
circumstance； the pigling never quite succeeded in hurling himself on to
the same eminence； but it was not from want of trying。
Neither side could claim any decisive success； and the struggle had
been practically fought to a standstill by the time that the maid appeared
with the early morning tea。
〃Lor； sir；〃 she exclaimed in undisguised astonishment； 〃do you
want those animals in your room？〃
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BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
WANT！
The pigling； as though aware that it might have outstayed its
welcome； dashed out at the door； and the gamecock followed it at a more
dignified pace。
〃If Miss Vera's dog sees that pig … ！〃 exclaimed the maid； and hurried
off to avert such a catastrophe。
A cold suspicion was stealing over Latimer's mind； he went to the
window and drew up the blind。 A light； drizzling rain was falling； but
there was not the faintest trace of any inundation。
Some half…hour later he met Vera on the way to the breakfast…room。
〃I should not like to think of you as a deliberate liar；〃 he observed
coldly； 〃but one occasionally has to do things one does not like。〃
〃At any rate I kept your mind from dwelling on politics all the
night；〃 said Vera。
Which was； of course； perfectly true。
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BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
THE UNKINDEST BLOW
THE season of strikes seemed to have run itself to a standstill。
Almost every trade and industry and calling in which a dislocation could
possibly be engineered had indulged in that luxury。 The last and least
successful convulsion had been the strike of the World's Union of
Zoological Garden attendants； who； pending the settlement of certain
demands； refused to minister further to the wants of the animals
committed to their charge or to allow any other keepers to take their
place。 In this case the threat of the Zoological Gardens authorities
that if the men 〃came out〃 the animals should come out also had
intensified and precipitated the crisis。 The imminent prospect of the
larger carnivores； to say nothing of rhinoceroses and bull bison； roaming
at large and unfed in the heart of London； was not one which permitted
of prolonged conferences。 The Government of the day； which from its
tendency to be a few hours behind the course of events had been
nicknamed the Government of the afternoon； was obliged to intervene
with promptitude and decision。 A strong force of Bluejackets was
despatched to Regent's Park to take over the temporarily abandoned
duties of the strikers。 Bluejackets were chosen in preference to land
forces； partly on account of the traditional readiness of the British Navy
to go anywhere and do anything； partly by reason of the familiarity of
the average sailor with monkeys； parrots； and other tropical fauna； but
chiefly at the urgent request of the First Lord of the Admiralty； who was
keenly desirous of an opportunity for performing some personal act of
unobtrusive public service within the province of his department。
〃If he insists on feeding the infant jaguar himself； in defiance of its
mother's wishes； there may be another by…election in the north；〃 said one
of his colleagues； with a hopeful inflection in his voice。 〃By…elections
are not very desirable at present； but we must not be selfish。〃
As a matter of fact the strike collapsed peacefully without any
outside intervention。 The majority of the keepers had become so
attached to their charges that they returned to work of their own accord。
And then the nation and the newspapers turned with a sense of relief
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