before adam(亚当之前)-第22章
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fiercely did he snap her from the branch； she was flung clear across a gap
into another tree。 It was remarkable； the way she gripped and saved
herself。 Only when driven to it did she seek the temporary safety of the
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thin branches。 But she was so tired that she could not otherwise avoid
him； and time after time she was compelled to take to the thin branches。
Still the chase went on； and still the Folk screeched； beat their chests；
and gnashed their teeth。 Then came the end。 It was almost twilight。
Trembling； panting； struggling for breath； the Swift One clung pitiably to a
high thin branch。 It was thirty feet to the ground； and nothing intervened。
Red…Eye swung back and forth on the branch farther down。 It became a
pendulum； swinging wider and wider with every lunge of his weight。
Then he reversed suddenly； just before the downward swing was
completed。 Her grips were torn loose； and； screaming； she was hurled
toward the ground。
But she righted herself in mid…air and descended feet first。 Ordinarily；
from such a height； the spring in her legs would have eased the shock of
impact with the ground。 But she was exhausted。 She could not exercise
this spring。 Her legs gave under her； having only partly met the shock；
and she crashed on over on her side。 This； as it turned out； did not injure
her； but it did knock the breath from her lungs。 She lay helpless and
struggling for air。
Red…Eye rushed upon her and seized her。 With his gnarly fingers
twisted into the hair of her head； he stood up and roared in triumph and
defiance at the awed Folk that watched from the trees。 Then it was that I
went mad。 Caution was thrown to the winds； forgotten was the will to
live of my flesh。 Even as Red…Eye roared； from behind I dashed upon
him。 So unexpected was my charge that I knocked him off his feet。 I
twined my arms and legs around him and strove to hold him down。 This
would have been impossible to accomplish had he not held tightly with
one hand to the Swift One's hair。
Encouraged by my conduct； Big…Face became a sudden ally。 He
charged in； sank his teeth in Red…Eye's arm； and ripped and tore at his face。
This was the time for the rest of the Folk to have joined in。 It was the
chance to do for Red…Eye for all time。 But they remained afraid in the
trees。
It was inevitable that Red…Eye should win in the struggle against the
two of us。 The reason he did not finish us off immediately was that the
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Swift One clogged his movements。 She had regained her breath and was
beginning to resist。 He would not release his clutch on her hair； and this
handicapped him。 He got a grip on my arm。 It was the beginning of the
end for me。 He began to draw me toward him into a position where he
could sink his teeth into my throat。 His mouth was open； and he was
grinning。 And yet； though he had just begun to exert his strength； in that
moment he wrenched my shoulder so that I suffered from it for the
remainder of my life。
And in that moment something happened。 There was no warning。
A great body smashed down upon the four of us locked together。 We
were driven violently apart and rolled over and over； and in the
suddenness of surprise we released our holds on one another。 At the
moment of the shock； Big…Face screamed terribly。 I did not know what
had happened； though I smelled tiger and caught a glimpse of striped fur
as I sprang for a tree。
It was old Saber…Tooth。 Aroused in his lair by the noise we had made；
he had crept upon us unnoticed。 The Swift One gained the next tree to
mine； and I immediately joined her。 I put my arms around her and held
her close to me while she whimpered and cried softly。 From the ground
came a snarling； and crunching of bones。 It was Saber…Tooth making his
supper off of what had been Big…Face。 From beyond； with inflamed rims
and eyes； Red…Eye peered down。 Here was a monster mightier than he。
The Swift One and I turned and went away quietly through the trees
toward the cave； while the Folk gathered overhead and showered down
abuse and twigs and branches upon their ancient enemy。 He lashed his
tail and snarled； but went on eating。
And in such fashion were we saved。 It was a mere accidentthe
sheerest accident。 Else would I have died； there in Red…Eye's clutch； and
there would have been no bridging of time to the tune of a thousand
centuries down to a progeny that reads newspapers and rides on electric
carsay； and that writes narratives of bygone happenings even as this is
written。
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CHAPTER XVII
It was in the early fall of the following year that it happened。 After his
failure to get the Swift One； Red…Eye had taken another wife； and； strange
to relate； she was still alive。 Stranger still； they had a baby several
months oldRed…Eye's first child。 His previous wives had never lived long
enough to bear him children。 The year had gone well for all of us。 The
weather had been exceptionally mild and food plentiful。 I remember
especially the turnips of that year。 The nut crop was also very heavy； and
the wild plums were larger and sweeter than usual。
In short； it was a golden year。 And then it happened。 It was in the
early morning； and we were surprised in our caves。 In the chill gray light
we awoke from sleep； most of us； to encounter death。 The Swift One and
I were aroused by a pandemonium of screeching and gibbering。 Our
cave was the highest of all on the cliff； and we crept to the mouth and
peered down。 The open space was filled with the Fire People。 Their
cries and yells were added to the clamor； but they had order and plan；
while we Folk had none。 Each one of us fought and acted for himself；
and no one of us knew the extent of the calamity that was befalling us。
By the time we got to stone…throwing； the Fire People had massed
thick at the base of the cliff。 Our first volley must have mashed some
heads； for when they swerved back from the cliff three of their number
were left upon the ground。 These were struggling and floundering； and
one was trying to crawl away。 But we fixed them。 By this time we males
were roaring with rage； and we rained rocks upon the three men that were
down。 Several of the Fire…Men returned to drag them into safety； but our
rocks drove the rescuers back。
The Fire People became enraged。 Also； they became cautious。 In
spite of their angry yells； they kept at a distance and sent flights of arrows
against us。 This put an end to the rock…throwing。 By the time half a
dozen of us had been killed and a score injured； the rest of us retreated
inside our caves。 I was not out of range in my lofty cave； but the distance
was great enough to spoil effective shooting； and the Fire People did not
waste many arrows on me。 Furthermore； I was curious。 I wanted to see。
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While the Swift One remained well inside the cave； trembling with fear
and making low wailing sounds because I would not come in； I crouched
at the entrance and watched。
The fighting had now become intermittent。 It was a sort of deadlock。
We were in the caves； and the question with the Fire People was how to
get us out。 They did not dare come in after us； and in general we would not
expose ourselves to their arrows。 Occasionally； when one of them drew in
close to the base of the cliff； one or another of the Folk would smash a
rock down。 In return； he would be transfixed by half a dozen arrows。
This ruse worked well for some time； but finally the Folk no longer were
inveigled into showing themselves。 The deadlock was complete。
Behind the Fire People I could see the little wizened old hunter
directing it all。 They obeyed him； and went here and there at his
commands。 Some of them went into the forest and returned with loads of
dry wood； leaves； and grass。 All the Fire People drew in closer。 While
most of them stood by with bows and arrows； ready to shoot any of the
Folk that exposed themselves； several of the Fire…Men heaped the dry
grass and wood at the mouths of the lower tier of caves。 Out of these
heaps they conjured the monster we fearedFIRE。 At first； wisps of
smoke arose and curled up the cliff。 Then I could see the red…tongued
flames darting in and out through the wood like tiny snakes。 The smoke
grew thicker and thicker； at times shrouding the whole face of the cliff。
But I was high up and it did not bother me much； though it stung my eyes
and I rubbed them with my knuckles。
Old Marrow…Bone was the first to be smoked out。 A light fan of air
drifted the smoke away at the time so that I saw clearly。 He broke out
through the smoke； stepping on a burning coal and screaming with the
sudden hurt of it； and essayed to climb up the cliff。 The arrows showered
about him。 He came to a pause on a ledge； clutching a knob
