Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 21
Inthepastwehadeatentherawriceinpassingandnotbeenpleasedwithit.Butnowweparcheditoverourfiresothatthegrainspuffedandexplodedinwhitenessandallthetribecamerunningtotaste.
AfterthatwebecameknownamongmenastheRice-EatersandastheSonsoftheRice.Andlong,longafter,whenweweredrivenbytheSonsoftheRiverfromtheswampsintotheuplands,wetooktheseedofthericewithusandplantedit.Welearnedtoselectthelargestgrainsfortheseed,sothatallthericewethereafteratewaslarger-grainedandpuffierintheparchingandtheboiling.
ButArunga.IhavesaidshesqualledandscratchedlikeacatwhenIstoleher.YetIrememberthetimewhenherownkinoftheHill-Mencaughtmeandcarriedmeawayintothehills.Theywereherfather,hisbrother,andhertwoownblood-brothers.Butshewasmine,whohadlivedwithme.Andatnight,whereIlayboundlikeawildpigfortheslaying,andtheysleptwearybythefire,shecreptuponthemandbrainedthemwiththewar-clubthatwithmyhandsIhadfashioned.Andsheweptoverme,andloosedme,andfledwithme,backtothewidesluggishriverwheretheblackbirdsandwildducksfedinthericeswamps—forthiswasbeforethetimeofthecomingoftheSonsoftheRiver.
ForshewasArunga,theonewoman,theeternalwoman.Shehaslivedinalltimesandplaces.Shewillalwayslive.Sheisimmortal.
