before adam(亚当之前)-第21章
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Red…Eye may have been the cause of her going。 It is quite certain that he
must have come upon her from time to time； wandering in the woods； and
if he had pursued her there is no question but that it would have been
sufficient to drive her away。 From subsequent events； I am led to believe
that she must have travelled far to the south； across a range of mountains
and down to the banks of a strange river； away from any of her kind。
Many Tree People lived down there； and I think it must have been they
who finally drove her back to the horde and to me。 My reasons for this I
shall explain later。
The shadows grew longer； and I pursued more ardently than ever； and
still I could not catch her。 She made believe that she was trying
desperately to escape me； and all the time she managed to keep just
beyond reach。 I forgot everythingtime； the oncoming of night； and my
meat…eating enemies。 I was insane with love of her； and withanger； too；
because she would not let me come up with her。 It was strange how this
anger against her seemed to be part of my desire for her。
As I have said； I forgot everything。 In racing across an open space I
ran full tilt upon a colony of snakes。 They did not deter me。 I was mad。
They struck at me； but I ducked and dodged and ran on。 Then there was
a python that ordinarily would have sent me screeching to a tree…top。 He
did run me into a tree； but the Swift One was going out of sight； and I
sprang back to the ground and went on。 It was a close shave。 Then
there was my old enemy； the hyena。 From my conduct he was sure
something was going to happen； and he followed me for an hour。 Once
we exasperated a band of wild pigs； and they took after us。 The Swift
One dared a wide leap between trees that was too much for me。 I had to
take to the ground。 There were the pigs。 I didn't care。 I struck the
earth within a yard of the nearest one。 They flanked me as I ran； and
chased me into two different trees out of the line of my pursuit of the
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Swift One。 I ventured the ground again； doubled back； and crossed a
wide open space； with the whole band grunting； bristling； and tusk…
gnashing at my heels。
If I had tripped or stumbled in that open space； there would have been
no chance for me。 But I didn't。 And I didn't care whether I did or not。
I was in such mood that I would have faced old Saber…Tooth himself； or a
score of arrow…shooting Fire People。 Such was the madness of
love。。。with me。 With the Swift One it was different。 She was very wise。
She did not take any real risks； and I remember； on looking back across
the centuries to that wild love…chase； that when the pigs delayed me she
did not run away very fast； but waited； rather； for me to take up the pursuit
again。 Also； she directed her retreat before me； going always in the
direction she wanted to go。 At last came the dark。 She led me around
the mossy shoulder of a canyon wall that out…jutted among the trees。
After that we penetrated a dense mass of underbrush that scraped and
ripped me in passing。 But she never ruffled a hair。 She knew the way。
In the midst of the thicket was a large oak。 I was very close to her when
she climbed it； and in the forks； in the nest…shelter I had sought so long
and vainly； I caught her。
The hyena had taken our trail again； and he now sat down on the
ground and made hungry noises。 But we did not mind； and we laughed at
him when he snarled and went away through the thicket。 It was the spring…
time； and the night noises were many and varied。 As was the custom at
that time of the year； there was much fighting among the animals。 From
the nest we could hear the squealing and neighing of wild horses； the
trumpeting of elephants； and the roaring of lions。 But the moon came out；
and the air was warm； and we laughed and were unafraid。
I remember； next morning； that we came upon two ruffled cock…birds
that fought so ardently that I went right up to them and caught them by
their necks。 Thus did the Swift One and I get our wedding breakfast。
They were delicious。 It was easy to catch birds in the spring of the year。
There was one night that year when two elk fought in the moonlight； while
the Swift One and I watched from the trees； and we saw a lion and lioness
crawl up to them unheeded； and kill them as they fought。
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There is no telling how long we might have lived in the Swift One's
tree…shelter。 But one day； while we were away； the tree was struck by
lightning。 Great limbs were riven； and the nest was demolished。 I
started to rebuild； but the Swift One would have nothing to do with it。 As
I was to learn； she was greatly afraid of lightning； and I could not persuade
her back into the tree。 So it came about； our honeymoon over； that we
went to the caves to live。 As Lop…Ear had evicted me from the cave
when he got married； I now evicted him； and the Swift One and I settled
down in it； while he slept at night in the connecting passage of the double
cave。
And with our coming to live with the horde came trouble。 Red…Eye
had had I don't know how many wives since the Singing One。 She had
gone the way of the rest。 At present he had a little； soft； spiritless thing
that whimpered and wept all the time； whether he beat her or not； and her
passing was a question of very little time。 Before she passed； even； Red…
Eye set his eyes on the Swift One； and when she passed； the persecution of
the Swift One began。
Well for her that she was the Swift One； that she had that amazing
aptitude for swift flight through the trees。 She needed all her wisdom and
daring in order to keep out of the clutches of Red…Eye。 I could not help her。
He was so powerful a monster that he could have torn me limb from limb。
As it was； to my death I carried an injured shoulder that ached and went
lame in rainy weather and that was a mark of is handiwork。
The Swift One was sick at the time I received this injury。 It must
have been a touch of the malaria from which we sometimes suffered； but
whatever it was； it made her dull and heavy。 She did not have the
accustomed spring to her muscles； and was indeed in poor shape for flight
when Red…Eye cornered her near the lair of the wild dogs； several miles
south from the caves。 Usually； she would have circled around him；
beaten him in the straight…away； and gained the protection of our small…
mouthed cave。 But she could not circle him。 She was too dull and slow。
Each time he headed her off； until she gave over the attempt and devoted
her energies wholly to keeping out of his clutches。
Had she not been sick it would have been child's play for her to elude
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him； but as it was； it required all her caution and cunning。 It was to her
advantage that she could travel on thinner branches than he； and make
wider leaps。 Also； she was an unerring judge of distance； and she had an
instinct for knowing the strength of twigs； branches； and rotten limbs。
It was an interminable chase。 Round and round and back and forth
for long stretches through the forest they dashed。 There was great
excitement among the other Folk。 They set up a wild chattering； that was
loudest when Red…Eye was at a distance； and that hushed when the chase
led him near。 They were impotent onlookers。 The females screeched and
gibbered； and the males beat their chests in helpless rage。 Big Face was
especially angry； and though he hushed his racket when Red…Eye drew
near； he did not hush it to the extent the others did。
As for me； I played no brave part。 I know I was anything but a hero。
Besides； of what use would it have been for me to encounter Red…Eye？ He
was the mighty monster； the abysmal brute； and there was no hope for me
in a conflict of strength。 He would have killed me； and the situation
would have remained unchanged。 He would have caught the Swift One
before she could have gained the cave。 As it was； I could only look on in
helpless fury； and dodge out of the way and cease my raging when he
came too near。
The hours passed。 It was late afternoon。 And still the chase went on。
Red…Eye was bent upon exhausting the Swift One。 He deliberately ran
her down。 After a long time she began to tire and could no longer
maintain her headlong flight。 Then it was that she began going far out on
the thinnest branches； where he could not follow。 Thus she might have
got a breathing spell； but Red…Eye was fiendish。 Unable to follow her； he
dislodged her by shaking her off。 With all his strength and weight； he
would shake the branch back and forth until he snapped her off as one
would snap a fly from a whip…lash。 The first time； she saved herself by
falling into branches lower down。 Another time； though they did not
save her from the ground； they broke her fall。 Still another time； so
fiercely did he snap her from the branch； she was flung clear across a gap
into another t
