The Work of Fifteen Days

           ForsometimeIstoodtotteringonthemoundregardlessofmysafety. WithinthatnoisomedenfromwhichIhademergedIhadthoughtwithanarrowintensityonlyofourimmediatesecurity. Ihadnotrealisedwhathadbeenhappeningtotheworld,hadnotanticipatedthisstartlingvisionofunfamiliarthings. IhadexpectedtoseeSheeninruins—Ifoundaboutmethelandscape,weirdandlurid,ofanotherplanet. 

           ForthatmomentItouchedanemotionbeyondthecommonrangeofmen,yetonethatthepoorbruteswedominateknowonlytoowell. Ifeltasarabbitmightfeelreturningtohisburrowandsuddenlyconfrontedbytheworkofadozenbusynavviesdiggingthefoundationsofahouse. Ifeltthefirstinklingofathingthatpresentlygrewquiteclearinmymind,thatoppressedmeformanydays,asenseofdethronement,apersuasionthatIwasnolongeramaster,butananimalamongtheanimals,undertheMartianheel. Withusitwouldbeaswiththem,tolurkandwatch,torunandhide; thefearandempireofmanhadpassedaway. 

           Butsosoonasthisstrangenesshadbeenrealiseditpassed,andmydominantmotivebecamethehungerofmylonganddismalfast. InthedirectionawayfromthepitIsaw,beyondared-coveredwall,apatchofgardengroundunburied. Thisgavemeahint,andIwentknee-deep,andsometimesneck-deep,intheredweed.Thedensityoftheweedgavemeareassuringsenseofhiding. Thewallwassomesixfeethigh,andwhenIattemptedtoclamberitIfoundIcouldnotliftmyfeettothecrest. SoIwentalongbythesideofit,andcametoacornerandarockworkthatenabledmetogettothetop,andtumbleintothegardenIcoveted.