До Адама
Chapter XV
NotuntilIwassafefromthemdidIturnmyattentiontothatliveagonyonmythigh.Andthen,adozenfeetabovethesnappingpackthatleapedandscrambledagainstthewallandfellback,Igotthedogbythethroatandslowlythrottledhim.Iwasalongtimedoingit.Heclawedandrippedmyhairandhidewithhishind-paws,andeverhejerkedandlungedwithhisweighttodragmefromthewall.
Atlasthisteethopenedandreleasedmytornflesh.Icarriedhisbodyupthecliffwithme,andperchedoutthenightintheentranceofmyoldcave,whereinwereLop-Earandmysister.ButfirstIhadtoendureastormofabusefromthearousedhordeforbeingthecauseofthedisturbance.Ihadmyrevenge.Fromtimetotime,asthenoiseofthepackbeloweaseddown,Idroppedarockandstarteditupagain.Whereupon,fromallaround,theabuseoftheexasperatedFolkbeganafresh.InthemorningIsharedthedogwithLop-Earandhiswife,andforseveraldaysthethreeofuswereneithervegetariansnorfruitarians.
Lop-Ear’smarriagewasnotahappyone,andtheconsolationaboutitisthatitdidnotlastverylong.NeitherhenorIwashappyduringthatperiod.Iwaslonely.Isufferedtheinconvenienceofbeingcastoutofmysafelittlecave,andsomehowIdidnotmakeitupwithanyotheroftheyoungmales.Isupposemylong-continuedchummingwithLop-Earhadbecomeahabit.
Imighthavemarried,itistrue;andmostlikelyIshouldhavemarriedhaditnotbeenforthedearthoffemalesinthehorde.
