До Адама
Chapter XVI
Cautionwasthrowntothewinds;forgottenwasthewilltoliveofmyflesh.EvenasRed-Eyeroared,frombehindIdasheduponhim.SounexpectedwasmychargethatIknockedhimoffhisfeet.Itwinedmyarmsandlegsaroundhimandstrovetoholdhimdown.ThiswouldhavebeenimpossibletoaccomplishhadhenotheldtightlywithonehandtotheSwiftOne’shair.
Encouragedbymyconduct,Big-Facebecameasuddenally.Hechargedin,sankhisteethinRed-Eye’sarm,andrippedandtoreathisface.ThiswasthetimefortherestoftheFolktohavejoinedin.ItwasthechancetodoforRed-Eyeforalltime.Buttheyremainedafraidinthetrees.
ItwasinevitablethatRed-Eyeshouldwininthestruggleagainstthetwoofus.ThereasonhedidnotfinishusoffimmediatelywasthattheSwiftOnecloggedhismovements.Shehadregainedherbreathandwasbeginningtoresist.Hewouldnotreleasehisclutchonherhair,andthishandicappedhim.Hegotagriponmyarm.Itwasthebeginningoftheendforme.Hebegantodrawmetowardhimintoapositionwherehecouldsinkhisteethintomythroat.Hismouthwasopen,andhewasgrinning.Andyet,thoughhehadjustbeguntoexerthisstrength,inthatmomenthewrenchedmyshouldersothatIsufferedfromitfortheremainderofmylife.
Andinthatmomentsomethinghappened.Therewasnowarning.Agreatbodysmasheddownuponthefourofuslockedtogether.Weweredrivenviolentlyapartandrolledoverandover,andinthesuddennessofsurprisewereleasedourholdsononeanother.Atthemomentoftheshock,Big-Facescreamedterribly