Part Eight

           Ithasbeenadayofwonder,this,ourfirstdayintheforest.

           Weawokewhenarayofsunlightfellacrossourface.Wewantedtoleaptoourfeet,aswehavehadtoleapeverymorningofourlife,butwerememberedsuddenlythatnobellhadrungandthattherewasnobelltoringanywhere.Welayonourback,wethrewourarmsout,andwelookedupatthesky.Theleaveshadedgesofsilverthattrembledandrippledlikeariverofgreenandfireflowinghighaboveus.

           Wedidnotwishtomove.Wethoughtsuddenlythatwecouldliethusaslongaswewished,andwelaughedaloudatthethought.Wecouldalsorise,orrun,orleap,orfalldownagain.Wewerethinkingthatthesewerethoughtswithoutsense,butbeforeweknewitourbodyhadriseninoneleap.Ourarmsstretchedoutoftheirownwill,andourbodywhirledandwhirled,tillitraisedawindtorustlethroughtheleavesofthebushes.Thenourhandsseizedabranchandswungushighintoatree,withnoaimsavethewonderoflearningthestrengthofourbody.Thebranchsnappedunderusandwefelluponthemossthatwassoftasacushion.Thenourbody,losingallsense,rolledoverandoveronthemoss,dryleavesinourtunic,inourhair,inourface.Andweheardsuddenlythatwewerelaughing,laughingaloud,laughingasiftherewerenopowerleftinussavelaughter.

           Thenwetookourglassbox,andwewentonintotheforest.Wewenton,cuttingthroughthebranches,anditwasasifwewereswimmingthroughaseaofleaves,withthebushesaswavesrisingandfallingandrisingaroundus,andflingingtheirgreensprayshightothetreetops.