Межзвёздный скиталец

           Iremember,oh,longagowhenhumankindwasveryyoung,thatImademeasnareandapitwithapointedstakeupthrustinthemiddlethereof,forthetakingofSabre-Tooth.Sabre-Tooth,long-fangedandlong-haired,wasthechiefestperiltousofthesquattingplace,whocrouchedthroughthenightsoverourfiresandbydayincreasedthegrowingshell-bankbeneathusbytheclamsweduganddevouredfromthesaltmud-flatsbesideus.

           AndwhentheroarandthesquallofSabre-Toothrouseduswherewesquattedbyourdyingembers,andIwaswildwithfarvisionoftheproofofthepitandthestake,itwasthewoman,armsaboutme,leg-twining,whofoughtwithmeandrestrainedmenottogooutthroughthedarktomydesire.Shewaspart-clad,forwarmthonly,inskinsofanimals,mangyandfire-burnt,thatIhadslain;shewasswartanddirtywithcampsmoke,unwashedsincethespringrains,withnailsgnarledandbroken,andhandsthatwerecallousedlikefootpadsandweremorelikeclawsthanlikehands;buthereyeswereblueasthesummerskyis,asthedeepseais,andtherewasthatinhereyes,andinherclaspedarmsaboutme,andinherheartbeatingagainstmine,thatwithheldme...thoughthroughthedarkuntildawn,whileSabre-Toothsqualledhiswrathandhisagony,IcouldhearmycomradessnickeringandsnigglingtotheirwomeninthatIhadnotthefaithinmyempriseandinventiontoventurethroughthenighttothepitandthestakeIhaddevisedfortheundoingofSabre-Tooth.