Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 8
ThusontheuplandpasturesbehindmyalfalfameadowsIdevelopedanewfarmwiththeaidofAngoragoats.HereImarkedthechangeswitheverydream-visit,andthechangeswereinaccordancewiththetimethatelapsedbetweenvisits.
Oh,thosebrush-coveredslopes!HowIcanseethemnowjustaswhenthegoatswerefirstintroduced.AndhowIrememberedtheconsequentchanges—thepathsbeginningtoformasthegoatsliterallyatetheirwaythroughthedensethickets;thedisappearanceoftheyounger,smallerbushesthatwerenottootallfortotalbrowsing;thevistasthatformedinalldirectionsthroughtheolder,tallerbushes,asthegoatsbrowsedashighastheycouldstandandreachontheirhindlegs;thedriftageofthepasturegrassesthatfollowedinthewakeoftheclearingbythegoats.Yes,thecontinuityofsuchdreamingwasitscharm.Camethedaywhenthemenwithaxeschoppeddownallthetallerbrushsoastogivethegoatsaccesstotheleavesandbudsandbark.Cametheday,inwinterweather,whenthedrydenudedskeletonsofallthesebushesweregatheredintoheapsandburned.CamethedaywhenImovedmygoatsontootherbrush-impregnablehillsides,withfollowingintheirwakemycattle,pasturingknee-deepinthesucculentgrassesthatgrewwherebeforehadbeenonlybrush.AndcamethedaywhenImovedmycattleon,andmyplough-menwentbackandforthacrosstheslopes’contour—ploughingtherichsodundertorottoliveandcrawlinghumousinwhichtobedmyseedsofcropstobe.
