Межзвёздный скиталец

           Fromtheriverwecaughtfishinnetstwistedbythewomenofthebarkofyoungtrees.

           Iwasaman,eagerandcuriousastheantelopewhenwelureditbywavinggrassclumpswherewelayhiddeninthethickofthegrass.Thewildricegrewintheswamp,risingsheerfromthewaterontheedgesofthechannels.Eachmorningtheblackbirdsawokeuswiththeirchatterastheylefttheirrooststoflytotheswamp.Andthroughthelongtwilighttheairwasfilledwiththeirnoiseastheywentbacktotheirroosts.Itwasthetimethatthericeripened.Andtherewereducksalso,andducksandblackbirdsfeastedtofatnessontheripericehalfunhuskedbythesun.

           Beingaman,everrestless,everquesting,wonderingalwayswhatlaybeyondthehillsandbeyondtheswampsandinthemudattheriver’sbottom,IwatchedthewildducksandblackbirdsandponderedtillmyponderinggavemevisionandIsaw.AndthisiswhatIsaw,thereasoningofit:

           Meatwasgoodtoeat.Intheend,tracingitback,oratthefirst,rather,allmeatcamefromgrass.Themeatoftheduckandoftheblackbirdcamefromtheseedoftheswamprice.Tokilladuckwithanarrowscarcepaidforthelabourofstalkingandthelonghoursinhiding.Theblackbirdsweretoosmallforarrow-killingsavebytheboyswhowerelearningandpreparingforthetakingoflargergame.Andyet,inriceseason,blackbirdsandducksweresucculentlyfat.Theirfatnesscamefromtherice.