До Адама

           Hehadgainedtheendofthebranchandbegunhisteetering,andIwascreepingoutafterhim,whensuddenlytherecamealowwarningcryfromLop-Ear.Ilookeddownandsawhiminthemainforkofthetreecrouchingcloseagainstthetrunk.InstinctivelyIcroucheddownuponthethicklimb.Broken-Toothstoppedteetering,butthebranchwouldnotstop,andhisbodycontinuedbobbingupanddownwiththerustlingleaves.

           Iheardthecrackleofadrytwig,andlookingdownsawmyfirstFire-Man.Hewascreepingstealthilyalongonthegroundandpeeringupintothetree.AtfirstIthoughthewasawildanimal,becauseheworearoundhiswaistandoverhisshouldersaraggedpieceofbearskin.AndthenIsawhishandsandfeet,andmoreclearlyhisfeatures.Hewasverymuchlikemykind,exceptthathewaslesshairyandthathisfeetwerelesslikehandsthanours.Infact,heandhispeople,asIwaslatertoknow,werefarlesshairythanwe,thoughwe,inturn,wereequallylesshairythantheTreePeople.

           Itcametomeinstantly,asIlookedathim.Thiswastheterrorofthenortheast,ofwhichthemysteryofsmokewasatoken.YetIwaspuzzled.Certainlyhewasnothing;ofwhichtobeafraid.Red-Eyeoranyofourstrongmenwouldhavebeenmorethanamatchforhim.Hewasold,too,wizenedwithage,andthehaironhisfacewasgray.Also,helimpedbadlywithoneleg.Therewasnodoubtatallthatwecouldout-runhimandout-climbhim.Hecouldnevercatchus,thatwascertain.

           ButhecarriedsomethinginhishandthatIhadneverseenbefore.Itwasabowandarrow.