Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > before adam(Ñǵ±Ö®Ç°) >

µÚ7½Ú

before adam(Ñǵ±Ö®Ç°)-µÚ7½Ú

С˵£º before adam(Ñǵ±Ö®Ç°) ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



my¡¡¡¡¡¡leaving¡¡¡¡¡¡home¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡¡¡¡¡times£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡yet¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡

awakened¡¡by¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Always¡¡do¡¡I¡¡crash£»¡¡shrieking£»¡¡down¡¡through¡¡the¡¡brush¡¡

and¡¡fetch¡¡up¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bump¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Scratched¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡bruised¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡whimpering£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡lay¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡fallen¡£¡¡

Peering¡¡up¡¡through¡¡the¡¡bushes£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡the¡¡Chatterer¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡set¡¡up¡¡a¡¡

demoniacal¡¡chant¡¡of¡¡joy¡¡and¡¡was¡¡keeping¡¡time¡¡to¡¡it¡¡with¡¡his¡¡teetering¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

quickly¡¡hushed¡¡my¡¡whimpering¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡in¡¡the¡¡safety¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trees£»¡¡

and¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡danger¡¡I¡¡ran¡¡of¡¡bringing¡¡upon¡¡myself¡¡the¡¡hunting¡¡animals¡¡

by¡¡too¡¡audible¡¡an¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡my¡¡grief¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡remember£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sobs¡¡¡¡¡¡died¡¡¡¡¡¡down£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡became¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡interested¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡

watching¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡strange¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡light¡­effects¡¡¡¡¡¡produced¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡partially¡¡¡¡¡¡opening¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

closing¡¡my¡¡tear¡­wet¡¡eyelids¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡began¡¡to¡¡investigate£»¡¡and¡¡found¡¡that¡¡I¡¡

was¡¡not¡¡so¡¡very¡¡badly¡¡damaged¡¡by¡¡my¡¡fall¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡some¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡hide£»¡¡

here¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡there£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sharp¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡jagged¡¡¡¡¡¡end¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡broken¡¡¡¡¡¡branch¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡thrust¡¡

fully¡¡an¡¡inch¡¡into¡¡my¡¡forearm£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡right¡¡hip£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡borne¡¡the¡¡brunt¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡23¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡24¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Before¡¡Adam¡¡



of¡¡my¡¡contact¡¡with¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡was¡¡aching¡¡intolerably¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡these£»¡¡after¡¡

all£»¡¡were¡¡only¡¡petty¡¡hurts¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡No¡¡bones¡¡were¡¡broken£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡those¡¡days¡¡the¡¡

flesh¡¡of¡¡man¡¡had¡¡finer¡¡healing¡¡qualities¡¡than¡¡it¡¡has¡¡to¡­day¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡

severe¡¡fall£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡limped¡¡with¡¡my¡¡injured¡¡hip¡¡for¡¡fully¡¡a¡¡week¡¡afterward¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Next£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡lay¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡bushes£»¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡feeling¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

desolation£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡consciousness¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡homeless¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡mind¡¡

never¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡return¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡mother¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Chatterer¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡go¡¡¡¡¡¡far¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡

through¡¡the¡¡terrible¡¡forest£»¡¡and¡¡find¡¡some¡¡tree¡¡for¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡which¡¡to¡¡roost¡£¡¡

As¡¡for¡¡food£»¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡where¡¡to¡¡find¡¡it¡£¡¡For¡¡the¡¡last¡¡year¡¡at¡¡least¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡

been¡¡¡¡¡¡beholden¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡mother¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡food¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡All¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡furnished¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡

protection¡¡and¡¡guidance¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡crawled¡¡softly¡¡out¡¡through¡¡the¡¡bushes¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Once¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡back¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡

the¡¡Chatterer¡¡still¡¡chanting¡¡and¡¡teetering¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡pleasant¡¡sight¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

knew¡¡pretty¡¡well¡¡how¡¡to¡¡be¡¡cautious£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡exceedingly¡¡careful¡¡on¡¡this¡¡

my¡¡first¡¡journey¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡gave¡¡no¡¡thought¡¡as¡¡to¡¡where¡¡I¡¡was¡¡going¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡but¡¡one¡¡purpose£»¡¡

and¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡go¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡¡¡¡¡beyond¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡reach¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Chatterer¡£¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡climbed¡¡

into¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡and¡¡wandered¡¡on¡¡amongst¡¡them¡¡for¡¡hours£»¡¡passing¡¡from¡¡tree¡¡

to¡¡tree¡¡and¡¡never¡¡touching¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡go¡¡in¡¡any¡¡particular¡¡

direction£»¡¡nor¡¡did¡¡I¡¡travel¡¡steadily¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡my¡¡nature£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡

all¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡folk£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡inconsequential¡£¡¡¡¡Besides£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡mere¡¡¡¡¡¡child£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

stopped¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡to¡¡play¡¡by¡¡the¡¡way¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡events¡¡that¡¡befell¡¡me¡¡on¡¡my¡¡leaving¡¡home¡¡are¡¡very¡¡vague¡¡in¡¡my¡¡

mind¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡dreams¡¡do¡¡not¡¡cover¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Much¡¡has¡¡my¡¡other¡­self¡¡forgotten£»¡¡

and¡¡particularly¡¡at¡¡this¡¡very¡¡period¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Nor¡¡have¡¡I¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡frame¡¡up¡¡the¡¡

various¡¡dreams¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡bridge¡¡the¡¡gap¡¡between¡¡my¡¡leaving¡¡the¡¡home¡­tree¡¡

and¡¡my¡¡arrival¡¡at¡¡the¡¡caves¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡that¡¡several¡¡times¡¡I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡open¡¡spaces¡£¡¡These¡¡I¡¡crossed¡¡

in¡¡great¡¡trepidation£»¡¡descending¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡and¡¡running¡¡at¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡my¡¡

speed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡that¡¡there¡¡were¡¡days¡¡of¡¡rain¡¡and¡¡days¡¡of¡¡sunshine£»¡¡so¡¡

that¡¡I¡¡must¡¡have¡¡wandered¡¡alone¡¡for¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡especially¡¡dream¡¡of¡¡

my¡¡¡¡¡¡misery¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡rain£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡sufferings¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡hunger¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

appeased¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡very¡¡strong¡¡impression¡¡is¡¡of¡¡hunting¡¡little¡¡lizards¡¡on¡¡the¡¡

rocky¡¡top¡¡of¡¡an¡¡open¡¡knoll¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡ran¡¡under¡¡the¡¡rocks£»¡¡and¡¡most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡24¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡25¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Before¡¡Adam¡¡



escaped£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡occasionally¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡turned¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡stone¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡caught¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡

frightened¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡knoll¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡snakes¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡pursue¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡£¡¡

They¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡merely¡¡¡¡¡¡basking¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡flat¡¡¡¡¡¡rocks¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sun¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡

inherited¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡them¡¡that¡¡I¡¡fled¡¡as¡¡fast¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡after¡¡me¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡gnawed¡¡bitter¡¡bark¡¡from¡¡young¡¡trees¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡vaguely¡¡the¡¡

eating¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡¡¡¡¡green¡¡¡¡¡¡nuts£»¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡soft¡¡¡¡¡¡shells¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡milky¡¡¡¡¡¡kernels¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

remember¡¡¡¡¡¡most¡¡¡¡¡¡distinctly¡¡¡¡¡¡suffering¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡stomach¡­ache¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡may¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡

been¡¡caused¡¡by¡¡the¡¡green¡¡nuts£»¡¡and¡¡maybe¡¡by¡¡the¡¡lizards¡£¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡£¡¡

But¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡do¡¡¡¡¡¡know¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡fortunate¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡¡¡¡¡devoured¡¡¡¡¡¡during¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

several¡¡hours¡¡I¡¡was¡¡knotted¡¡up¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡with¡¡the¡¡colic¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡25¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡26¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Before¡¡Adam¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡CHAPTER¡¡V¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡vision¡¡of¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡came¡¡abruptly£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡emerged¡¡from¡¡the¡¡forest¡£¡¡

I¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡myself¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡edge¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡large¡¡¡¡¡¡clear¡¡¡¡¡¡space¡£¡¡On¡¡one¡¡side¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡this¡¡

space¡¡rose¡¡up¡¡high¡¡¡¡¡¡bluffs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡river¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡earth¡¡

bank¡¡ran¡¡steeply¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡but¡¡here¡¡and¡¡there£»¡¡in¡¡several¡¡places£»¡¡

where¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡slides¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡earth¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡occurred£»¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡run¡­ways¡£¡¡

These¡¡were¡¡the¡¡drinking¡­places¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Folk¡¡that¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡the¡¡caves¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡main¡¡¡¡¡¡abiding¡­place¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Folk¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡chanced¡¡

upon¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡may¡¡¡¡say£»¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡stretching¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡word£»¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡village¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡

mother¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Chatterer¡¡and¡¡I£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡few¡¡other¡¡simple¡¡bodies£»¡¡were¡¡what¡¡

might¡¡be¡¡termed¡¡suburban¡¡residents¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡were¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡horde£»¡¡though¡¡

we¡¡lived¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡away¡¡from¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡only¡¡a¡¡short¡¡distance£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡

had¡¡taken¡¡me£»¡¡what¡¡of¡¡my¡¡wandering£»¡¡all¡¡of¡¡a¡¡week¡¡to¡¡arrive¡£¡¡Had¡¡I¡¡come¡¡

directly£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡have¡¡covered¡¡the¡¡trip¡¡in¡¡an¡¡hour¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡to¡¡return¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡caves¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bluff£»¡¡

the¡¡open¡¡space£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡run¡­ways¡¡to¡¡the¡¡drinking¡­places¡£¡¡And¡¡in¡¡the¡¡open¡¡

space¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Folk¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡straying£»¡¡alone¡¡and¡¡a¡¡child£»¡¡for¡¡

a¡¡week¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡During¡¡that¡¡time¡¡I¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡not¡¡one¡¡of¡¡my¡¡kind¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡

terror¡¡and¡¡desolation¡£¡¡And¡¡now£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡my¡¡kind£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡overcome¡¡

with¡¡gladness£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡ran¡¡wildly¡¡toward¡¡them¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡it¡¡was¡¡that¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡thing¡¡happened¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Some¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Folk¡¡saw¡¡

me¡¡and¡¡uttered¡¡a¡¡warning¡¡cry¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡instant£»¡¡crying¡¡out¡¡with¡¡fear¡¡and¡¡

panic£»¡¡the¡¡Folk¡¡fled¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Leaping¡¡and¡¡scrambling¡¡over¡¡the¡¡rocks£»¡¡they¡¡

plunged¡¡into¡¡the¡¡mouths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡caves¡¡and¡¡disappeared¡£¡£¡£all¡¡but¡¡one£»¡¡a¡¡little¡¡

baby£»¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡dropped¡¡in¡¡the¡¡excitement¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡base¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bluff¡£¡¡

He¡¡was¡¡wailing¡¡dolefully¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡mother¡¡dashed¡¡out£»¡¡he¡¡sprang¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡her¡¡

and¡¡held¡¡on¡¡tightly¡¡as¡¡she¡¡scrambled¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡cave¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡all¡¡alone¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡populous¡¡open¡¡space¡¡had¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡become¡¡

deserted¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡forlornly¡¡and¡¡whimpered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡understand¡£¡¡

Why¡¡had¡¡the¡¡Folk¡¡run¡¡away¡¡from¡¡me£¿¡¡In¡¡later¡¡time£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡know¡¡

their¡¡ways£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡to¡¡learn¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡me¡¡dashing¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡at¡¡

top¡¡¡¡¡¡speed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡concluded¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡¡¡¡¡pursued¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡hunting¡¡

animal¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡By¡¡my¡¡unceremonious¡¡approach¡¡I¡¡had¡¡stampeded¡¡them¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡26¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡27¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Before¡¡Adam¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡I¡¡sat¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡cave¡­mouths¡¡I¡¡became¡¡¡¡¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Folk¡¡

were¡¡watching¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Soon¡¡they¡¡were¡¡thrusting¡¡their¡¡heads¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡little¡¡

later¡¡they¡¡were¡¡calling¡¡¡¡back¡¡and¡¡forth¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡another¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡hurry¡¡¡¡and¡¡

confusion¡¡it¡¡had¡¡happened¡¡that¡¡all¡¡had¡¡not¡¡gained¡¡their¡¡own¡¡caves¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Some¡¡

of¡¡the¡¡young¡¡ones¡¡had¡¡sought¡¡refuge¡¡in¡¡other¡¡caves¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡mothers¡¡did¡¡not¡¡

call¡¡for¡¡them¡¡by¡¡name£»¡¡because¡¡that¡¡was¡¡an¡¡invention¡¡we¡¡had¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡made¡£¡¡

All¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡nameless¡£¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡mothers¡¡uttered¡¡¡¡¡¡querulous£»¡¡¡¡anxious¡¡¡¡¡¡cries£»¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡

were¡¡¡¡¡¡recognized¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡ones¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Thus£»¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡mother¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡

calling¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡recognized¡¡her¡¡voice¡¡amongst¡¡the¡¡voices¡¡of¡¡a¡¡

thousand¡¡mothers£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡way¡¡would¡¡she¡¡have¡¡recognized¡¡mine¡¡

amongst¡¡a¡¡thousand¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡calling¡¡back¡¡and¡¡forth¡¡continued¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡were¡¡too¡¡

cautious¡¡to¡¡come¡¡out¡¡of¡¡their¡¡caves¡¡and¡¡descend¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡Finally¡¡one¡¡

did¡¡come¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡destined¡¡to¡¡play¡¡a¡¡large¡¡part¡¡in¡¡my¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡that¡¡

matter¡¡he¡¡already¡¡played¡¡a¡¡large¡¡part¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lives¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ