before adam(亚当之前)-第25节
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our caves and watched。 After some time a Fire…Man stepped cautiously
into the open space。 It was the little wizened old hunter。 He stood for a
long time and watched us； looking our caves and the cliff…wall up and
down。 He descended one of the run…ways to a drinking…place； returning a
few minutes later by another run…way。 Again he stood and watched us
carefully； for a long time。 Then he turned on his heel and limped into the
forest； leaving us calling querulously and plaintively to one another from
the cave…mouths。
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CHAPTER XVI
I found her down in the old neighborhood near the blueberry swamp；
where my mother lived and where Lop…Ear and I had built our first tree…
shelter。 It was unexpected。 As I came under the tree I heard the
familiar soft sound and looked up。 There she was； the Swift One； sitting
on a limb and swinging her legs back and forth as she looked at me。
I stood still for some time。 The sight of her had made me very happy。
And then an unrest and a pain began to creep in on this happiness。 I
started to climb the tree after her； and she retreated slowly out the limb。
Just as I reached for her； she sprang through the air and landed in the
branches of the next tree。 From amid the rustling leaves she peeped out
at me and made soft sounds。 I leaped straight for her； and after an
exciting chase the situation was duplicated； for there she was； making soft
sounds and peeping out from the leaves of a third tree。
It was borne in upon me that somehow it was different now from the
old days before Lop…Ear and I had gone on our adventure…journey。 I
wanted her； and I knew that I wanted her。 And she knew it； too。 That was
why she would not let me come near her。 I forgot that she was truly the
Swift One； and that in the art of climbing she had been my teacher。 I
pursued her from tree to tree； and ever she eluded me； peeping back at me
with kindly eyes； making soft sounds； and dancing and leaping and
teetering before me just out of reach。 The more she eluded me； the more
I wanted to catch her； and the lengthening shadows of the afternoon bore
witness to the futility of my effort。
As I pursued her； or sometimes rested in an adjoining tree and watched
her； I noticed the change in her。 She was larger； heavier； more grown…up。
Her lines were rounder； her muscles fuller； and there was about her that
indefinite something of maturity that was new to her and that incited me
on。 Three years she had been gonethree years at the very least； and the
change in her was marked。 I say three years； it is as near as I can
measure the time。 A fourth year may have elapsed； which I have
confused with the happenings of the other three years。 The more I think
of it； the more confident I am that it must be four years that she was away。
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Where she went； why she went； and what happened to her during that
time； I do not know。 There was no way for her to tell me； any more than
there was a way for Lop…Ear and me to tell the Folk what we had seen
when we were away。 Like us； the chance is she had gone off on an
adventure…journey； and by herself。 On the other hand； it is possible that
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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Before Adam
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 neck
