Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 21
WhyshouldIandminenotbefatfromthericeinthesameway?
AndIthoughtitoutincamp,silent,morose,whilethechildrensquabbledaboutmeunnoticed,andwhileArunga,mymate-woman,vainlyscoldedmeandurgedmetogohuntingformoremeatforthemanyofus.
ArungawasthewomanIhadstolenfromthehill-tribes.SheandIhadbeenadozenmoonsinlearningcommonspeechafterIcapturedher.Ah,thatdaywhenIleapeduponher,downfromtheover-hangingtree-branchasshepaddedtherunway!FairlyuponhershoulderswiththeweightofmybodyIsmoteher,myfingerswide-spreadingtoclutchher.Shesqualledlikeacatthereintherunway.Shefoughtmeandbitme.Thenailsofherhandswereliketheclawsofatree-catastheytoreatme.ButIheldherandmasteredher,andfortwodaysbeatherandforcedhertotravelwithmedownoutofthecanyonsoftheHill-Mentothegrasslandswheretheriverflowedthroughtherice-swampsandtheducksandtheblackbirdsfedfat.
Isawmyvisionwhenthericewasripe.IputArungainthebowofthefire-hollowedlogthatwasmostrudelyacanoe.Ibadeherpaddle.InthesternIspreadadeerskinshehadtanned.WithtwostoutsticksIbentthestalksoverthedeerskinandthreshedoutthegrainthatelsetheblackbirdswouldhaveeaten.AndwhenIhadworkedoutthewayofit,IgavethetwostoutstickstoArunga,andsatinthebowpaddlinganddirecting.
