Chapter 21

           Pascalsomewheresays:“Inviewingthemarchofhumanevolution,thephilosophicmindshouldlookuponhumanityasoneman,andnotasaconglomerationofindividuals.”

           IsithereinMurderers’RowinFolsom,thedrowsyhumoffliesinmyearsasIponderthatthoughtofPascal.Itistrue.Justasthehumanembryo,initsbrieftenlunarmonths,withbewilderingswiftness,inmyriadformsandsemblancesamyriadtimesmultiplied,rehearsestheentirehistoryoforganiclifefromvegetabletoman;justasthehumanboy,inhisbriefyearsofboyhood,rehearsesthehistoryofprimitivemaninactsofcrueltyandsavagery,fromwantonnessofinflictingpainonlessercreaturestotribalconsciousnessexpressedbythedesiretoruningangs;justso,I,DarrellStanding,haverehearsedandrelivedallthatprimitivemanwas,anddid,andbecameuntilhebecameevenyouandmeandtherestofourkindinatwentiethcenturycivilization.

           Trulydowecarryinus,eachhumanofusaliveontheplanetto-day,theincorruptiblehistoryoflifefromlife’sbeginning.Thishistoryiswritteninourtissuesandourbones,inourfunctionsandourorgans,inourbraincellsandinourspirits,andinallsortsofphysicalandpsychicatavisticurgenciesandcompulsions.Oncewewerefish-like,youandI,myreader,andcrawledupoutoftheseatopioneerinthegreat,dry-landadventureinthethickofwhichwearenow.