До Адама

           Everytimehetriedtoclimbthetreewepulledhimback,untilatlasthesurrenderedtohisweaknessanddidnomorethansitandweep.AndLop-EarandIsatwithhim,ourarmsaroundeachother,andlaughedathiswretchedness.

           Fromweepinghewenttowhining,andfromwhiningtowailing,untilatlastheachievedascream.Thisalarmedus,butthemorewetriedtomakehimcease,thelouderhescreamed.Andthen,fromnotfarawayintheforest,camea“Goek!Goek!”toourears.Tothistherewereansweringcries,severalofthem,andfromveryfaroffwecouldhearabig,bass“Goek!Goek!Goek!”Also,the“Whoo-whoo!”callwasrisingintheforestallaroundus.

           Thencamethechase.Itseemeditneverwouldend.Theyracedusthroughthetrees,thewholetribeofthem,andnearlycaughtus.Wewereforcedtotaketotheground,andherewehadtheadvantage,fortheyweretrulytheTreePeople,andwhiletheyout-climbedusweout-footedthemontheground.Webrokeawaytowardthenorth,thetribehowlingonourtrack.Acrosstheopenspaceswegained,andinthebrushtheycaughtupwithus,andmorethanonceitwasnipandtuck.Andasthechasecontinued,werealizedthatwewerenottheirkind,either,andthatthebondsbetweenuswereanythingbutsympathetic.

           Theyranusforhours.Theforestseemedinterminable.Wekepttothegladesasmuchaspossible,buttheyalwaysendedinmorethickforest.