before adam(亚当之前)-第17节
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logs alongside each other。 And then； quite by accident； in the course of
play； we discovered that when each； with one hand and foot； held on to the
other's log； the logs were steadied and did not turn over。 Lying side by
side in this position； our outside hands and feet were left free for paddling。
Our final discovery was that this arrangement enabled us to use still
smaller logs and thereby gain greater speed。 And there our discoveries
ended。 We had invented the most primitive catamaran； and we did not
have sense enough to know it。 It never entered our heads to lash the logs
together with tough vines or stringy roots。 We were content to hold the
logs together with our hands and feet。
It was not until we got over our first enthusiasm for navigation and had
begun to return to our tree…shelter to sleep at night； that we found the Swift
One。 I saw her first； gathering young acorns from the branches of a large
oak near our tree。 She was very timid。 At first； she kept very still； but
when she saw that she was discovered she dropped to the ground and
dashed wildly away。 We caught occasional glimpses of her from day to
day； and came to look for her when we travelled back and forth between
our tree and the mouth of the slough。
And then； one day； she did not run away。 She waited our coming； and
made soft peace…sounds。 We could not get very near； however。 When we
seemed to approach too close； she darted suddenly away and from a safe
distance uttered the soft sounds again。 This continued for some days。 It
took a long while to get acquainted with her； but finally it was
accomplished and she joined us sometimes in our play。
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I liked her from the first。 She was of most pleasing appearance。 She
was very mild。 Her eyes were the mildest I had ever seen。 In this she
was quite unlike the rest of the girls and women of the Folk； who were
born viragos。 She never made harsh； angry cries； and it seemed to be her
nature to flee away from trouble rather than to remain and fight。
The mildness I have mentioned seemed to emanate from her whole
being。 Her bodily as well as facial appearance was the cause of this。
Her eyes were larger than most of her kind； and they were not so deep…set；
while the lashes were longer and more regular。 Nor was her nose so thick
and squat。 It had quite a bridge； and the nostrils opened downward。
Her incisors were not large； nor was her upper lip long and down…hanging；
nor her lower lip protruding。 She was not very hairy； except on the
outsides of arms and legs and across the shoulders； and while she was
thin…hipped； her calves were not twisted and gnarly。
I have often wondered； looking back upon her from the twentieth
century through the medium of my dreams； and it has always occurred to
me that possibly she may have been related to the Fire People。 Her
father； or mother； might well have come from that higher stock。 While
such things were not common； still they did occur； and I have seen the
proof of them with my own eyes； even to the extent of members of the
horde turning renegade and going to live with the Tree People。
All of which is neither here nor there。 The Swift One was radically
different from any of the females of the horde； and I had a liking for her
from the first。 Her mildness and gentleness attracted me。 She was
never rough； and she never fought。 She always ran away； and right here
may be noted the significance of the naming of her。 She was a better
climber than Lop…Ear or I。 When we played tag we could never catch her
except by accident； while she could catch us at will。 She was remarkably
swift in all her movements； and she had a genius for judging distances that
was equalled only by her daring。 Excessively timid in all other matters；
she was without fear when it came to climbing or running through the
trees； and Lop…Ear and I were awkward and lumbering and cowardly in
comparison。
She was an orphan。 We never saw her with any one； and there was
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no telling how long she had lived alone in the world。 She must have
learned early in her helpless childhood that safety lay only in flight。 She
was very wise and very discreet。 It became a sort of game with Lop…Ear
and me to try to find where she lived。 It was certain that she had a tree…
shelter somewhere； and not very far away； but trail her as we would； we
could never find it。 She was willing enough to join with us at play in the
day…time； but the secret of her abiding…place she guarded jealously。
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CHAPTER XI
It must be remembered that the description I have just given of the
Swift One is not the description that would have been given by Big…Tooth；
my other self of my dreams； my prehistoric ancestor。 It is by the medium
of my dreams that I； the modern man； look through the eyes of Big…Tooth
and see。
And so it is with much that I narrate of the events of that far…off time。
There is a duality about my impressions that is too confusing to inflict
upon my readers。 I shall merely pause here in my narrative to indicate
this duality； this perplexing mixing of personality。 It is I； the modern；
who look back across the centuries and weigh and analyze the emotions
and motives of Big…Tooth； my other self。 He did not bother to weigh and
analyze。 He was simplicity itself。 He just lived events； without ever
pondering why he lived them in his particular and often erratic way。
As I； my real self； grew older； I entered more and more into the
substance of my dreams。 One may dream； and even in the midst of the
dream be aware that he is dreaming； and if the dream be bad； comfort
himself with the thought that it is only a dream。 This is a common
experience with all of us。 And so it was that I； the modern； often entered
into my dreaming； and in the consequent strange dual personality was both
actor and spectator。 And right often have I； the modern； been perturbed
and vexed by the foolishness； illogic； obtuseness； and general all…round
stupendous stupidity of myself； the primitive。
And one thing more； before I end this digression。 Have you ever
dreamed that you dreamed？ Dogs dream； horses dream； all animals dream。
In Big…Tooth's day the half…men dreamed； and when the dreams were bad
they howled in their sleep。 Now I； the modern； have lain down with Big…
Tooth and dreamed his dreams。
This is getting almost beyond the grip of the intellect； I know； but I do
know that I have done this thing。 And let me tell you that the flying and
crawling dreams of Big…Tooth were as vivid to him as the falling…through…
space dream is to you。
For Big…Tooth also had an other…self； and when he slept that other…self
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dreamed back into the past； back to the winged reptiles and the clash and
the onset of dragons； and beyond that to the scurrying； rodent…like life of
the tiny mammals； and far remoter still； to the shore…slime of the primeval
sea。 I cannot； I dare not； say more。 It is all too vague and complicated
and awful。 I can only hint of those vast and terrific vistas through which
I have peered hazily at the progression of life； not upward from the ape to
man； but upward from the worm。
And now to return to my tale。 I； Big…Tooth； knew not the Swift One
as a creature of finer facial and bodily symmetry； with long…lashed eyes
and a bridge to her nose and down…opening nostrils that made to
