До Адама
Chapter X
Shewasnotveryhairy,exceptontheoutsidesofarmsandlegsandacrosstheshoulders;andwhileshewasthin-hipped,hercalveswerenottwistedandgnarly.
Ihaveoftenwondered,lookingbackuponherfromthetwentiethcenturythroughthemediumofmydreams,andithasalwaysoccurredtomethatpossiblyshemayhavebeenrelatedtotheFirePeople.Herfather,ormother,mightwellhavecomefromthathigherstock.Whilesuchthingswerenotcommon,stilltheydidoccur,andIhaveseentheproofofthemwithmyowneyes,eventotheextentofmembersofthehordeturningrenegadeandgoingtolivewiththeTreePeople.
Allofwhichisneitherherenorthere.TheSwiftOnewasradicallydifferentfromanyofthefemalesofthehorde,andIhadalikingforherfromthefirst.Hermildnessandgentlenessattractedme.Shewasneverrough,andsheneverfought.Shealwaysranaway,andrightheremaybenotedthesignificanceofthenamingofher.ShewasabetterclimberthanLop-EarorI.Whenweplayedtagwecouldnevercatchherexceptbyaccident,whileshecouldcatchusatwill.Shewasremarkablyswiftinallhermovements,andshehadageniusforjudgingdistancesthatwasequalledonlybyherdaring.Excessivelytimidinallothermatters,shewaswithoutfearwhenitcametoclimbingorrunningthroughthetrees,andLop-EarandIwereawkwardandlumberingandcowardlyincomparison.
Shewasanorphan.Weneversawherwithanyone,andtherewasnotellinghowlongshehadlivedaloneintheworld.Shemusthavelearnedearlyinherhelplesschildhoodthatsafetylayonlyinflight
