And then, with everyone's status in the pack settled, with me feeding at the adult trough,
大家在群体中的地位都稳定了下来:我也和成年狗一起进食,
with Carlos sneaking us bones and Senora handing out treats and kisses, in came a new dog.
卡洛斯偷偷给我们带骨头,夫人给我们分发食物、送上热吻。有一天,这里来了一只新成员。
His name was Spike.
他叫斯派克。
We'd heard the doors on Bobby's truck slam, so we were all barking,
我们听到鲍比卡车的门砰的一声关上了,于是我们都叫了起来,
though it was so hot that day that some of us who were lying in the shade didn't even get off our bellies.
不过,那天天气很热,有些狗子一直躺在阴凉处没有动。
The gate opened and Bobby entered, leading a large, muscular male on the end of his pole.
大门打开了,鲍比走了进来,他牵着一只大块头、肌肉发达的狗。
Having the entire pack rush you at the gate was intimidating, but the new dog didn't budge.
当时我们所有狗子都在门口冲它叫着,那场面其实蛮吓人的,但他却一副临危不动的样子。
He was as dark and broad as Rottie and as tall as Top Dog.
他像罗蒂一样又黑又壮,像狗老大一样高。
Most of his tail was missing, but what little stub he possessed wasn't wagging,
它的尾巴缺了一大截,但剩下的那一小截也没有摇晃,
and he stood with his weight balanced on all four legs.
他四条腿站在地上,支撑着全身的重量。
A low rumble emitted from his chest.
他胸中发出低沉的隆隆声。
“Easy, Spike. Okay there,” Bobby said.
“放松,斯派克。好了,进去吧。”鲍比说。
The way Bobby said “Spike,” I knew that was his name.
鲍比说"斯派克"的时候,我就知道那是他的名字。
I decided to let everyone else have a turn at inspecting him before I did anything.
我决定先按兵不动,等让其他狗子先探探他的情况。
Top Dog had, as usual, hung back,
狗老大像往常一样,没有立刻上前,
but now he emerged from the cool shadows near the waterspout and trotted forward to meet the new arrival.
但现在他从水柱附近的树荫中走出来,小步跑着去看新来的成员。
Bobby slipped the loop off Spike's neck.
鲍比解开了斯派克脖子上的绳圈。
“Easy, now,” Bobby said.
“没事的,去认识一下吧。”鲍比说。
Bobby's tension rippled through the pack, and I could feel the fur on my back rising up,
大家感受到了鲍比的紧张情绪,我也能感觉到自己背上的寒毛立起来了,
though I wasn't sure why.
虽然我也不知道为什么。
Top Dog and Spike were stiffly examining each other, neither one backing down, the pack in a tight circle.
狗老大和斯派克正僵硬地互相打量着,谁也没有后退,其他狗子紧紧地围成了一圈。
Spike's face was covered with scars—teardropshaped pits and lumps colored a pale gray against his dark fur.
斯派克的脸上布满了伤疤——在他黑色的毛发衬托下,可以看到浅灰色的泪滴状凹坑和隆起。