before adam(亚当之前)-第20节
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are shaped by the merest chance。 We did not know it was our riverthere
was no way of telling； and if we had never crossed it we would most
probably have never returned to the horde； and I； the modern； the thousand
centuries yet to be born； would never have been born 。
And yet Lop…Ear and I wanted greatly to return。 We had experienced
homesickness on our journey； the yearning for our own kind and land； and
often had I had recollections of the Swift One； the young female who
made soft sounds； whom it was good to be with； and who lived by herself
nobody knew where。 My recollections of her were accompanied by
sensations of hunger； and these I felt when I was not hungry and when I
had just eaten。
But to come back to the river。 Food was plentiful； principally berries
and succulent roots； and on the river bank we played and lingered for days。
And then the idea came to Lop…Ear。 It was a visible process； the coming
of the idea。 I saw it。 The expression in his eyes became plaintive and
querulous； and he was greatly perturbed。 Then his eyes went muddy； as
if he had lost his grip on the inchoate thought。 This was followed by the
plaintive； querulous expression as the idea persisted and he clutched it
anew。 He looked at me； and at the river and the far shore。 He tried to
speak； but had no sounds with which to express the idea。 The result was
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a gibberish that made me laugh。 This angered him； and he grabbed me
suddenly and threw me on my back。 Of course we fought； and in the end I
chased him up a tree； where he secured a long branch and poked me every
time I tried to get at him。
And the idea had gone glimmering。 I did not know； and he had
forgotten。 But the next morning it awoke in him again。 Perhaps it was
the homing instinct in him asserting itself that made the idea persist。 At
any rate it was there； and clearer than before。 He led me down to the water；
where a log had grounded in an eddy。 I thought he was minded to play； as
we had played in the mouth of the slough。 Nor did I change my mind as
I watched him tow up a second log from farther down the shore。
It was not until we were on the logs； side by side and holding them
together； and had paddled out into the current； that I learned his intention。
He paused to point at the far shore； and resumed his paddling； at the same
time uttering loud and encouraging cries。 I understood； and we paddled
energetically。 The swift current caught us； flung us toward the south shore；
but before we could make a landing flung us back toward the north shore。
Here arose dissension。 Seeing the north shore so near； I began to
paddle for it。 Lop…Ear tried to paddle for the south shore。 The logs
swung around in circles； and we got nowhere； and all the time the forest
was flashing past as we drifted down the stream。 We could not fight。
We knew better than to let go the grips of hands and feet that held the logs
together。 But we chattered and abused each other with our tongues until
the current flung us toward the south bank again。 That was now the
nearest goal； and together and amicably we paddled for it。 We landed in
an eddy； and climbed directly into the trees to reconnoitre。
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CHAPTER XIII
It was not until the night of our first day on the south bank of the
river that we discovered the Fire People。 What must have been a band of
wandering hunters went into camp not far from the tree in which Lop…Ear
and I had elected to roost for the night。 The voices of the Fire People at
first alarmed us； but later； when darkness had come； we were attracted by
the fire。 We crept cautiously and silently from tree to tree till we got a
good view of the scene。
In an open space among the trees； near to the river； the fire was
burning。 About it were half a dozen Fire…Men。 Lop…Ear clutched me
suddenly； and I could feel him tremble。 I looked more closely； and saw
the wizened little old hunter who had shot Broken…Tooth out of the tree
years before。 When he got up and walked about； throwing fresh wood
upon the fire； I saw that he limped with his crippled leg。 Whatever it was；
it was a permanent injury。 He seemed more dried up and wizened than
ever； and the hair on his face was quite gray。
The other hunters were young men。 I noted； lying near them on the
ground； their bows and arrows； and I knew the weapons for what they
were。 The Fire…Men wore animal skins around their waists and across
their shoulders。 Their arms and legs； however； were bare； and they wore
no footgear。 As I have said before； they were not quite so hairy as we of
the Folk。 They did not have large heads； and between them and the Folk
there was very little difference in the degree of the slant of the head back
from the eyes。
They were less stooped than we； less springy in their movements。
Their backbones and hips and knee…joints seemed more rigid。 Their arms
were not so long as ours either； and I did not notice that they ever balanced
themselves when they walked； by touching the ground on either side with
their hands。 Also； their muscles were more rounded and symmetrical
than ours； and their faces were more pleasing。 Their nose orifices opened
downward； likewise the bridges of their noses were more developed； did
not look so squat nor crushed as ours。 Their lips were less flabby and
pendent； and their eye…teeth did not look so much like fangs。 However；
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they were quite as thin…hipped as we； and did not weigh much more。 Take
it all in all； they were less different from us than were we from the Tree
People。 Certainly； all three kinds were related； and not so remotely
related at that。
The fire around which they sat was especially attractive。 Lop…Ear
and I sat for hours； watching the flames and smoke。 It was most
fascinating when fresh fuel was thrown on and showers of sparks went
flying upward。 I wanted to come closer and look at the fire； but there
was no way。 We were crouching in the forks of a tree on the edge of the
open space； and we did not dare run the risk of being discovered。
The Fire…Men squatted around the fire and slept with their heads
bowed forward on their knees。 They did not sleep soundly。 Their ears
twitched in their sleep； and they were restless。 Every little while one or
another got up and threw more wood upon the fire。 About the circle of
light in the forest； in the darkness beyond； roamed hunting animals。 Lop…
Ear and I could tell them by their sounds。 There were wild dogs and a
hyena； and for a time there was a great yelping and snarling that awakened
on the instant the whole circle of sleeping Fire…Men。
Once a lion and a lioness stood beneath our tree and gazed out with
bristling hair and blinking eyes。 The lion licked his chops and was
nervous with eagerness； as if he wanted to go forward and make a meal。
But the lioness was more cautious。 It was she that discovered us； and the
pair stood and looked up at us； silently； with twitching； scenting nostrils。
Then they growled； looked once again at the fire； and turned away into the
forest。
For a much longer time Lop…Ear and I remained and watched。 Now
and again we could hear the crashing of heavy bodies in the thickets and
underbrush； and from the darkness of the other side； across the circle； we
could see eyes gleaming in the firelight。 In the distance we heard a lion
roar； and from far off came the scream of some stricken animal； splashing
and floundering
