The Yearling Page #5

Get the gun.

Pa, it's a doe.

Do as I say.

Use your knife to open up her belly.

What am I to do?

Cut out the liver and heart.

Maybe we got a chance this way. Hurry.

Hurry, boy!

- You'll bleed to death.

- I'd rather that than swell.

I seen a man die. I can feel it draw.

Do it hurt, Pa?

Like a hot knife.

Give me the heart, boy.

- The doe's got a fawn.

- Sorry, boy, I can't help it.

Listen, I got to make for home.

You get on to the Forresters.

Have them get Doc Wilson.

- It's my only chance. Can you do it?

- I can.

- Save I'm snake-bit afore they shoot.

- I can do it.

Keep out of Lem's way.

Have one of them pick me up in case

I can't make it. And hurry, boy!

You'll make it! You hear me?

You're obliged to make it.

Fodderwing!

Fodderwing!

- Fodderwing!

- What do you want? You little varmint.

- Pa's snake-bit.

- What kind of snake?

- A big rattler.

- Where'd it get him?

- In the arm.

- Is he swelling?

It's bad swelled already.

Please ride for Doc Wilson.

Please ride for him, quick. Please!

- I'll ride for him.

- I thank you, Millwheel.

I'd help a dog was snake-bit.

I'll pick up Penny.

Walking's bad for a man is snake-bit.

Pa! Oh, Pa!

Old Death's got to wait a while on me.

Doc. Hey, doc.

- What?

- Look at Pa.

Lord of the jaybirds, he made it.

- He's dead!

- Not by a long shot.

He's pulled through.

You sound like you're sorry.

- I could sleep for a week.

- That's just what I want you to do.

He ain't pretty,

but by thunder, he's alive.

I woke up fixing to bury him.

- How he done it without whiskey?

- How come you be out of it?

I was finishing my last jug

when you rode up.

How was I to know somebody was

to get snake-bit? Thank you, ma'am.

Jody, you finished?

Take this warm milk into your pa.

And mind you don't spill none of it.

Now did I have me a real good snort,

I'd be pretty nigh satisfied.

It were a near thing, Pa.

- You all right now, though.

- That's right.

I'm proud, the way you kept your head

and done what was needed.

What's the matter, boy?

- Pa, you recollect that doe you shot?

- Can't never forget her.

Most likely she saved your life?

She saved me, that's certain.

Pa, you recollect

that little fawn she had?

Yes, boy.

Most likely it's mighty scared

and lonesome and hungry.

I reckon so.

It might be out there,

not knowing which way to go.

Might be.

It won't take much to raise it.

It'll soon make out

on leaves and acorns.

You figure the farthest

of any young'un I ever knowed.

We've taken its mammy

and it weren't to blame.

It don't seem grateful

to let it starve, do it?

Pa, you figure I could go out

and see could I find him?

- And tote it here?

- Tote it here and raise it.

Pa?

Boy, you've got me hemmed in.

You tell your ma I said

you was to go and get it.

Hey, Pa!

Hey, doves!

It's me.

It's me...

...Jody!

Well...

I'm proud you found him.

He weren't scared of me.

He was laving right where

his mammy made his bed.

Look, Ma! I found him.

So I see.

It'll take milk for a long while.

I don't know as I'd have consented

if I'd knowed it was so young.

He ain't so young.

Is he, Pa?

Ora...

...I got one thing to say,

then I'll have no more talk about it.

The little fawn's as welcome

in this house as Jody. It's hissen.

And we'll raise it without grudgement

of milk or meal.

You've got me to answer to,

I ever hear you quarreling about it.

This is Jody's fawn

just like Julie's my dog.

I only said it was young.

All right, so it is.

Now, don't you bother

about him at all.

I'll tend to everything

that needs tending to.

He won't be a mite of trouble to you.

I fooled you.

Hey! Wait for me.

Come on!

Come on!

Come on, I'll race you.

Hey, Ma!

You wanna see him butt?

Look it, Ma!

- Did you see him, Ma?

- I seen him.

Look at him thisaway, Ma.

Ain't his eves pretty?

They can see mischief too far.

- Ain't he got a cute, foolish tail?

- All deer's tails look the same.

- You wanna pet him? You can.

- I ain't petting no fawns.

I gotta get a name for him.

I've studied and I can't think of one

good enough for him.

You think more of that fawn

than of your pa.

Oh, Pa!

But I just got to.

I gotta get something special.

- Why don't you call him Rover?

- Ma! Rover's a dog's name.

Well, call him Joe, then.

Ma! Joe Baxter

sounds like a man.

He's gotta get him a special name.

- You know who'd get me a good name?

- Who's that?

- Fodderwing.

- Fodderwing's ailing.

But he'd just love to see my little

fawn. And he gets wonderful names.

He'll get you a name.

He's got an ear for such things.

Can I, Ma? Can I?

All I know is, my voice

don't mean nothing around here.

Ma!

Jody!

What?

You gotta quit sleeping

with that fawn.

Just don't you be impatient now.

You think you're baggily...

...because you can get into bed

without having to undress.

Get over.

I wanna explain something to you.

Pretty soon, we'll go see Fodderwing,

he'll give you a name.

You'll like Fodderwing.

I want you to behave real mannerly,

so as he'll take to you.

You and me and...

You hear that?

That's a wolf.

You ever hear a noise like that,

you get in the house quick.

You hear any noises

that is animals...

...you start running and bleating

so as I'll hear you.

You listening to me?

I don't know what ails Ma.

You smell just fine.

Come on.

This here's where Fodderwing lives.

Stand still.

You gotta look nice if you want him

to put a name to you.

Fodderwing always shows me his pets.

Now I've got something to show him.

Come on!

Fodderwing.

Maybe they's all asleep.

Fodderwing! It's Jody!

I got me something.

Come to see Fodderwing.

Come to show him my fawn.

I come special!

He's dead!

- But I come to see him.

- You come too late.

I'd have fetched you

if there'd been time.

There wasn't time enough

to fetch old doc.

One minute he was breathing,

and the next minute, he just wasn't.

Like as if you'd blowed out a candle.

You can come look at him.

I lost my boy.

My poor crookedy boy.

He'll not hear, but speak to him.

Hey.

I knowed you'd hate it fearful.

I wished he could've seen your fawn.

I told him about it.

He talked a lot about it.

He said, "Jody's got him a brother."

That's how come we to be here.

I come for Fodderwing to name him.

He did name him. He said,

"A fawn has a little white flag.

His tail is a little white flag.

If I had a fawn, I'd name him Flag."

He said, "Flag the fawn

is what I'd call him."

Flag.

Flag the fawn.

Penny, you've had a Christian raising.

We'd be proud, did you say something.

Oh, Lord, almighty God...

...it ain't for us ignorant mortals

to say what's right and what's wrong.

Was any one of us to be doing it...

...we'd not have made this poor boy

into a cripple.

But, Lord, in a way of speaking,

you made it up to him.

You give him a way

with the wild critters.

You give him a sort of wisdom.

Made him knowing and gentle.

And now you've seen fit

to take him...

...where being crookedly

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