before adam(亚当之前)-第8节
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matter he already played a large part in the lives of all the members of the
horde。 He it was whom I shall call Red…Eye in the pages of this history
so called because of his inflamed eyes； the lids being always red； and； by
the peculiar effect they produced； seeming to advertise the terrible
savagery of him。 The color of his soul was red。
He was a monster in all ways。 Physically he was a giant。 He must
have weighed one hundred and seventy pounds。 He was the largest one
of our kind I ever saw。 Nor did I ever see one of the Fire People so large as
he； nor one of the Tree People。 Sometimes； when in the newspapers I
happen upon descriptions of our modern bruisers and prizefighters； I
wonder what chance the best of them would have had against him。
I am afraid not much of a chance。 With one grip of his iron fingers
and a pull； he could have plucked a muscle； say a biceps； by the roots；
clear out of their bodies。 A back…handed； loose blow of his fist could
have smashed their skulls like egg…shells。 With a sweep of his wicked feet
（or hind…hands） he could have disembowelled them。 A twist could have
broken their necks； and I know that with a single crunch of his jaws he
could have pierced； at the same moment； the great vein of the throat in
front and the spinal marrow at the back。
He could spring twenty feet horizontally from a sitting position。 He
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was abominably hairy。 It was a matter of pride with us to be not very
hairy。 But he was covered with hair all over； on the inside of the arms as
well as the outside； and even the ears themselves。 The only places on
him where the hair did not grow were the soles of his hands and feet and
beneath his eyes。 He was frightfully ugly； his ferocious grinning mouth
and huge down…hanging under…lip being but in harmony with his terrible
eyes。
This was Red…Eye。 And right gingerly he crept out or his cave and
descended to the ground。 Ignoring me； he proceeded to reconnoitre。 He
bent forward from the hips as he walked； and so far forward did he bend；
and so long were his arms； that with every step he touched the knuckles of
his hands to the ground on either side of him。 He was awkward in the
semi…erect position of walking that he assumed； and he really touched his
knuckles to the ground in order to balance himself。 But oh； I tell you he
could run on all…fours！ Now this was something at which we were
particularly awkward。 Furthermore； it was a rare individual among us who
balanced himself with his knuckles when walking。 Such an individual
was an atavism； and Red…Eye was an even greater atavism。
That is what he wasan atavism。 We were in the process of changing
our tree…life to life on the ground。 For many generations we had been
going through this change； and our bodies and carriage had likewise
changed。 But Red…Eye had reverted to the more primitive tree…dwelling
type。 Perforce； because he was born in our horde he stayed with us； but
in actuality he was an atavism and his place was elsewhere。
Very circumspect and very alert； he moved here and there about the
open space； peering through the vistas among the trees and trying to catch
a glimpse of the hunting animal that all suspected had pursued me。 And
while he did this； taking no notice of me； the Folk crowded at the cave…
mouths and watched。
At last he evidently decided that there was no danger lurking about。
He was returning from the head of the run…way； from where he had taken a
peep down at the drinking…place。 His course brought him near； but still
he did not notice me。 He proceeded casually on his way until abreast of
me； and then； without warning and with incredible swiftness； he smote me
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a buffet on the head。 I was knocked backward fully a dozen feet before I
fetched up against the ground； and I remember； half…stunned； even as the
blow was struck； hearing the wild uproar of clucking and shrieking
laughter that arose from the caves。 It was a great jokeat least in that
day； and right heartily the Folk appreciated it。
Thus was I received into the horde。 Red…Eye paid no further
attention to me； and I was at liberty to whimper and sob to my heart's
content。 Several of the women gathered curiously about me； and I
recognized them。 I had encountered them the preceding year when my
mother had taken me to the hazelnut canyons。
But they quickly left me alone； being replaced by a dozen curious and
teasing youngsters。 They formed a circle around me； pointing their
fingers； making faces； and poking and pinching me。 I was frightened；
and for a time I endured them； then anger got the best of me and I sprang
tooth and nail upon the most audacious one of themnone other than Lop…
Ear himself。 I have so named him because he could prick up only one of
his ears。 The other ear always hung limp and without movement。 Some
accident had injured the muscles and deprived him of the use of it。
He closed with me； and we went at it for all the world like a couple of
small boys fighting。 We scratched and bit； pulled hair； clinched； and
threw each other down。 I remember I succeeded in getting on him what in
my college days I learned was called a half…Nelson。 This hold gave me
the decided advantage。 But I did not enjoy it long。 He twisted up one
leg； and with the foot （or hind…hand） made so savage an onslaught upon
my abdomen as to threaten to disembowel me。 I had to release him in
order to save myself； and then we went at it again。
Lop…Ear was a year older than I； but I was several times angrier than
he； and in the end he took to his heels。 I chased him across the open and
down a run…way to the river。 But he was better acquainted with the
locality and ran along the edge of the water and up another run…way。 He
cut diagonally across the open space and dashed into a wide…mouthed
cave。
Before I knew it； I had plunged after him into the darkness。 The next
moment I was badly frightened。 I had never been in a cave before。 I
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began to whimper and cry out。 Lop…Ear chattered mockingly at me； and；
springing upon me unseen； tumbled me over。 He did not risk a second
encounter； however； and took himself off。 I was between him and the
entrance； and he did not pass me； yet he seemed to have gone away。 I
listened； but could get no clew as to where he was。 This puzzled me； and
when I regained the outside I sat down to watch。
He never came out of the entrance； of that I was certain； yet at the end
of several minutes he chuckled at my elbow。 Again I ran after him； and
again he ran into the cave； but this time I stopped at the mouth。 I
dropped back a short distance and watched。 He did not come out； yet； as
before； he chuckled at my elbow and was chased by me a third time into
the cave。
This performance was repeated several times。 Then I followed him
into the cave； where I searched vainly for him。 I was curious。 I could
not understand how he eluded me。 Always he went into the cave； never
did he come out of it； yet always did he arrive there at my elbow and mock
me。 Thus did our fight transform itself into a game of hide and seek。
All afternoon； with occasional intervals； we kept it up； and a playful；
friendly spirit arose between us。 In the end； he did not run away from me；
and we sat together with our arms around each other。 A little later he
disclosed
