“The Alien” by John Neihardt

 

Through the quiet night, crystalline with the pervading spirit of the frost, under prairie skies of mystic purple pierced with the glass-like glinting of stars, fled Antoine.

A story selected by editor, Jon Lewis, as one of the 100 Best Western Stories.

It was penned by the gentleman, who in cooperation with Oglala holy man Black Elk, gave the world the volume Black Elk Speaks.

The tale, as one might tell from the offered opening paragraph, is a bit purplish in prose, as for the tale itself—it is a variation of Jack London themes—“Man and Wolf” “Civilized and Savage.”

On its face it does not hold with the best of London, but I suspect that Mr. Lewis selected it for another reason. If one reads between the lines, we are led to the conclusion that savagery and loneliness has led to a far more bizarre relationship with the wild than London ever presented.

I found the tale unremarkable save for this hinted at aspect.

Not essential, but short enough to provide a “WTF?” for the curious.