before adam(亚当之前)-第30节
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must soon have perished。 It was a bad climate down there by the sea。
The Folk were not constituted for the coast…dwelling life。
We travelled south； for days skirting the great swamp but never
venturing into it。 Once we broke back to the westward； crossing a range
of mountains and coming down to the coast。 But it was no place for us。
There were no treesonly bleak headlands； a thundering surf； and strong
winds that seemed never to cease from blowing。 We turned back across the
mountains； travelling east and south； until we came in touch with the great
swamp again。
Soon we gained the southern extremity of the swamp； and we
continued our course south and east。 It was a pleasant land。 The air
was warm； and we were again in the forest。 Later on we crossed a low…
lying range of hills and found ourselves in an even better forest country。
The farther we penetrated from the coast the warmer we found it； and we
went on and on until we came to a large river that seemed familiar to the
Swift One。 It was where she must have come during the four years'
absence from the harde。 This river we crossed on logs； landing on side at
the large bluff。 High up on the bluff we found our new home most difficult
of access and quite hidden from any eye beneath。
There is little more of my tale to tell。 Here the Swift One and I lived
and reared our family。 And here my memories end。 We never made
another migration。 I never dream beyond our high； inaccessible cave。
And here must have been born the child that inherited the stuff of my
dreams； that had moulded into its being all the impressions of my lifeor
of the life of Big…Tooth； rather； who is my other…self； and not my real self；
but who is so real to me that often I am unable to tell what age I am living
in。
I often wonder about this line of descent。 I； the modern； am
incontestably a man； yet I； Big…Tooth； the primitive； am not a man。
Somewhere； and by straight line of descent； these two parties to my dual
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Before Adam
personality were connected。 Were the Folk； before their destruction； in
the process of becoming men？ And did I and mine carry through this
process？ On the other hand； may not some descendant of mine have gone
in to the Fire People and become one of them？ I do not know。 There is no
way of learning。 One thing only is certain； and that is that Big…Tooth did
stamp into the cerebral constitution of one of his progeny all the
impressions of his life； and stamped them in so indelibly that the hosts of
intervening generations have failed to obliterate them。
There is one other thing of which I must speak before I close。 It is a
dream that I dream often； and in point of time the real event must have
occurred during the period of my living in the high； inaccessible cave。 I
remember that I wandered far in the forest toward the east。 There I came
upon a tribe of Tree People。 I crouched in a thicket and watched them at
play。 They were holding a laughing council； jumping up and down and
screeching rude choruses。
Suddenly they hushed their noise and ceased their capering。 They
shrank down in fear； and quested anxiously about with their eyes for a way
of retreat。 Then Red…Eye walked in among them。 They cowered away
from him。 All were frightened。 But he made no attempt to hurt them。
He was one of them。 At his heels； on stringy bended legs； supporting
herself with knuckles to the ground on either side； walked an old female of
the Tree People； his latest wife。 He sat down in the midst of the circle。
I can see him now； as I write this； scowling； his eyes inflamed； as he peers
about him at the circle of the Tree People。 And as he peers he crooks one
monstrous leg and with his gnarly toes scratches himself on the stomach。
He is Red…Eye； the atavism。
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