before adam(亚当之前)-第28节
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beneath the arrows。 Some of the women and children remained in the
caves to strangle to death； but the majority met death outside。
When the Fire…Men had in this fashion cleared the first tier of caves；
they began making arrangements to duplicate the operation on the second
tier of caves。 It was while they were climbing up with their grass and
wood； that Red…Eye； followed by his wife； with the baby holding to her
tightly； made a successful flight up the cliff。 The Fire…Men must have
concluded that in the interval between the smoking…out operations we
would remain in our caves； so that they were unprepared； and their arrows
did not begin to fly till Red…Eye and his wife were well up the wall。
When he reached the top； he turned about and glared down at them；
roaring and beating his chest。 They arched their arrows at him； and
though he was untouched he fled on。
I watched a third tier smoked out； and a fourth。 A few of the Folk
escaped up the cliff； but most of them were shot off the face of it as they
strove to climb。 I remember Long…Lip。 He got as far as my ledge；
crying piteously； an arrow clear through his chest； the feathered shaft
sticking out behind； the bone head sticking out before； shot through the
back as he climbed。 He sank down on my ledge bleeding profusely at the
mouth。
It was about this time that the upper tiers seemed to empty themselves
spontaneously。 Nearly all the Folk not yet smoked out stampeded up the
cliff at the same time。 This was the saving of many。 The Fire People
could not shoot arrows fast enough。 They filled the air with arrows； and
scores of the stricken Folk came tumbling down； but still there were a few
who reached the top and got away。
The impulse of flight was now stronger in me than curiosity。 The
arrows had ceased flying。 The last of the Folk seemed gone； though
there may have been a few still hiding in the upper caves。 The Swift One
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and I started to make a scramble for the cliff…top。 At sight of us a great cry
went up from the Fire People。 This was not caused by me； but by the
Swift One。 They were chattering excitedly and pointing her out to one
another。 They did not try to shoot her。 Not an arrow was discharged。
They began calling softly and coaxingly。 I stopped and looked down。
She was afraid； and whimpered and urged me on。 So we went up over
the top and plunged into the trees。
This event has often caused me to wonder and speculate。 If she were
really of their kind； she must have been lost from them at a time when she
was too young to remember； else would she not have been afraid of them。
On the other hand； it may well have been that while she was their kind she
had never been lost from them； that she had been born in the wild forest
far from their haunts； her father maybe a renegade Fire…Man； her mother
maybe one of my own kind； one of the Folk。 But who shall say？ These
things are beyond me； and the Swift One knew no more about them than
did I。
We lived through a day of terror。 Most of the survivors fled toward
the blueberry swamp and took refuge in the forest in that neighborhood。
And all day hunting parties of the Fire People ranged the forest； killing us
wherever they found us。 It must have been a deliberately executed plan。
Increasing beyond the limits of their own territory； they had decided on
making a conquest of ours。 Sorry the conquest！ We had no chance
against them。 It was slaughter； indiscriminate slaughter； for they spared
none； killing old and young； effectively ridding the land of our presence。
It was like the end of the world to us。 We fled to the trees as a last
refuge； only to be surrounded and killed； family by family。 We saw much
of this during that day； and besides； I wanted to see。 The Swift One and I
never remained long in one tree； and so escaped being surrounded。 But
there seemed no place to go。 The Fire…Men were everywhere； bent on their
task of extermination。 Every way we turned we encountered them； and
because of this we saw much of their handiwork。
I did not see what became of my mother； but I did see the Chatterer
shot down out of the old home…tree。 And I am afraid that at the sight I
did a bit of joyous teetering。 Before I leave this portion of my narrative；
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I must tell of Red…Eye。 He was caught with his wife in a tree down by
the blueberry swamp。 The Swift One and I stopped long enough in our
flight to see。 The Fire…Men were too intent upon their work to notice us；
and； furthermore； we were well screened by the thicket in which we
crouched。
Fully a score of the hunters were under the tree； discharging arrows
into it。 They always picked up their arrows when they fell back to earth。
I could not see Red…Eye； but I could hear him howling from somewhere in
the tree。
After a short interval his howling grew muffled。 He must have
crawled into a hollow in the trunk。 But his wife did not win this shelter。
An arrow brought her to the ground。 She was severely hurt； for she made
no effort to get away。 She crouched in a sheltering way over her baby
（which clung tightly to her）； and made pleading signs and sounds to the
Fire…Men。 They gathered about her and laughed at hereven as Lop…Ear
and I had laughed at the old Tree…Man。 And even as we had poked him
with twigs and sticks； so did the Fire…Men with Red…Eye's wife。 They
poked her with the ends of their bows； and prodded her in the ribs。 But
she was poor fun。 She would not fight。 Nor； for that matter； would she
get angry。 She continued to crouch over her baby and to plead。 One of
the Fire…Men stepped close to her。 In his hand was a club。 She saw and
understood； but she made only the pleading sounds until the blow fell。
Red…Eye； in the hollow of the trunk； was safe from their arrows。 They
stood together and debated for a while； then one of them climbed into the
tree。 What happened up there I could not tell； but I heard him yell and
saw the excitement of those that remained beneath。 After several minutes
his body crashed down to the ground。 He did not move。 They looked at
him and raised his head； but it fell back limply when they let go。 Red…
Eye had accounted for himself。
They were very angry。 There was an opening into the trunk close to
the ground。 They gathered wood and grass and built a fire。 The Swift
One and I； our arms around each other； waited and watched in the thicket。
Sometimes they threw upon the fire green branches with many leaves；
whereupon the smoke became very thick。
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We saw them suddenly swerve back from the tree。 They were not
quick enough。 Red…Eye's flying body landed in the midst of them。
He was in a frightful rage； smashing about with his long arms right
and left。 He pulled the face off one of them； literally pulled it off with
those gnarly fingers of his and those tremendous muscles。 He bit another
through the neck。 The Fire…Men fell back with wild fierce yells； then
rushed upon him。 He managed to get hold of a club and began crushing
heads like eggshells。 He was too much for them； and they were
compelled to fall back again。 This was his chance； and he turned his
back upon them and ran for it； still howling wrathfully。 A few arrows
sped after him； but he plunged into a thicket and was gone。
The Swift One and I crept quietly away； only to run foul of another
party of Fire…Men。 They chased us into the blueberr
