《朱莉的狼群》（节选十）

琼·克雷格黑德·乔治

The Avaliks and Nukas met where Avalik borders faded away at a National Petroleum Reserve outpost. The activities of humans had wiped out the wolf borders. Oil and machinery held this territory within the Avalik home range.

They came toward each other with fur rising on their bodies， making them enormous warriors. Kapu eyed Low Wind. Low Wind eyed Kapu. Kapu scratched his signature on the ground with hard strokes of his claws. Low Wind placed his signature on an oily piece of ground， where it could be plainly seen and dreaded. Kapu lifted his leg and scent marked the top of a tundra grass blade. “Come no farther，” he said.

Now that Kapus attention was totally focused on Low Wind， Raw Bones saw his opportunity. With a quick movement he knocked Kapu toward the enemy. Startled， Low Wind attacked Kapu， and so did Raw Bones. Instantly， loyal Zing was upon Raw Bones. Head and chest above him， he bossed him to the ground and pinned him there. Zing had had enough of this wolf too.

The alpha fight began. Kapu and Low Wind mouthed each others shoulders and rose on hind feet， each trying to lift his head higher than the others. The growling and snarling was terrifying. Both wolf packs watched in silence. In the midst of the fight Sweet Fur Amy signaled Aaka， and the two sped into the middle of the Nukas. They encircled two adolescents and herded them behind the Avalik lines.

Low Wind， momentarily distracted by the departure of his young adults， turned his head， and in that second Kapu rolled him to the ground. Stiff-legged， he walked to a battered oil barrel and shot his scent higher than ever before. Low Wind responded to this statement of victory by pressing his ears against his head and lowering his tail. His face was smooth and expressionless. Kapus eyes were wide， his tail high， his fur and ears erect. He was magnificent to see. The two leaders looked at each other; then Low Wind signaled his adolescents to return and walked away.

The young Nukas did not move. Kapu， the victor， had told them to stay. Low Wind stepped forward to get them. Kapu lifted the fur on his back and， scratching the ground， drew a new border. He gave Low Wind the oily territory he was on， then turned and walked off with the two strong Nukas. With them in the pack Raw Bones would not be needed.

The rival packs trotted apart. Not far from the battleground Kapu whimpered his joy， sat down， and threw back his head. He howled. His pack howled. The Nukas howled. The wolf music continued until each individual in each pack felt that the business of the day had been concluded satisfactorily.

阿瓦里克河狼群和努卡河狼群碰面了。地点是一处国家石油储备基地附近，在这里阿瓦里克河狼群的边界逐渐模糊。人类活动抹掉了狼群的边界。石油和机械设备占据了阿瓦里克河狼群家园内的这片区域。

两群狼互相靠近，身上的毛发直竖，让他们看起来都像是魁梧的斗士。卡普盯着低风。低风盯着卡普。卡普用粗硬的爪子在地上刨出痕迹作为标记。低风的标记画在浸有石油的地面上，特别显眼也让人害怕。卡普抬起腿，在冻原草叶顶端做了气味标记。“不许往前走了。”卡普说。

现在卡普的注意力完全集中到了低风身上，生骨看到了机会。生骨猛地一下把卡普撞向低风。低风吃了一惊，开始攻击卡普，生骨也攻击卡普。对卡普忠诚的津立刻扑向生骨。津的头和胸部压着生骨，喝令他待在地上，并把他紧紧按住。津对生骨的忍耐也到了极限。

头狼之间的战斗开始了。卡普和低风互相咬住对方的肩膀，直立起来，都想让自己的头高过对方。他们的嘶吼声让人心惊。两个狼群都静静地观战。战事正酣，香毛艾米朝阿卡使了个眼色，她们冲到努卡河狼群中间，把两只幼狼围了起来，驱赶到阿瓦里克河狼群这边。

看到自己狼群的幼狼被带走，低风一瞬间走神，转头观望，就在这一刻，卡普把低风摔倒在地上。卡普挺起腿，走到一个破烂的油桶旁，高高地撒下一泡尿算作标记。这泡尿撒得比以往都要高。面对这样的胜利宣言，低风把耳朵紧紧贴住脑袋，尾巴也低垂下来。……