（外文电子版资料）John Christopher - A Few Kindred Spirits.pdf

A FEW KINDRED SPIRITS by John Christopher Nebula 1965 Nominee Short Story Proofed By MadMaxAU Dog lovers may or may not be happy to know that a canine plays a substantial part in the delightful tale below, in which Englands John Christopher lifts the veil to give us a glimpse into the world of the homosexual dog. (And you still wonder why theyre not naming em Rover anymore?) * * * * In the animal creation, as in the human, there are spheres whose existence remain unsuspected until chance lifts a corner of the veil. One of these, as far as I was concerned, was the world of the homo-sexual dog. I only became aware of it when Shlobber came into my life. Shlobber, of course, was a classic text-book case for deviation. Absentee father (admittedly a norm amongst dogs) and most decidedly possessive and domineering mother. She was black-and-white, terrier-type, with admixture of collie and spaniel and more elusive extras, and Shlobber was a child of her one and only litter. The intention was to get rid of all the pups to suitable homes, and this was, in fact, achieved. Shlobber, however, having proved over-boisterous for one of the children in the billet we found him, was brought back with apologies. Only as a transient, we thought, but somehow he stayed. Mother went away to be spayed, returned with joy to find her golden-haired son still on the scene, and launched into that career of aggressive, chivvying affection which determined and character-ized their relationship. Hour after hour, day after day, she snapped and barked at him, and roughly bowled him over. And he, for his part, was, somewhat resentfully, devoted to her. His perversity emerged later, and was first apparent when the bitch further up the lane came in season. She was, to