Міжзірковий мандрівник

           Hismotherstrewedwood-ashesonherheadandblackenedherface.Hisfathercutoffhalfthefingersofonehandintokenofsorrow.Andallthewomen,especiallytheyoungandunwedded,screamedevilnamesatme;andtheeldersshooktheirwiseheadsandmutteredandmumbledthatnottheirfathersnortheirfathers’fathershadbetrayedsuchamadness.Horsemeatwasgoodtoeat;youngcoltsweretendertooldteeth;andonlyafoolwouldcometoclosegrappleswithanywildhorsesavewhenanarrowhadpiercedit,orwhenitstruggledonthestakeinthemidstofthepit.

           AndSelpascoldedmetosleep,andinthemorningwokemewithherchatter,everdeclaimingagainstmymadness,everpronouncingherclaimuponmeandtheclaimsofourchildren,tillintheendIgrewweary,andforsookmyfarvision,andsaidneveragainwouldIdreamofbestridingthewildhorsetoflyswiftasitsfeetandthewindacrossthesandsandthegrasslands.

           Andthroughtheyearsthetaleofmymadnessneverceasedfrombeingtoldoverthecamp-fire.Yetwastheverytellingthesourceofmyvengeance;forthedreamdidnotdie,andtheyoungones,listeningtothelaughandthesneer,redreamedit,sothatintheenditwasOthar,myeldest-born,himselfasheerstripling,thatwalkeddownawildstallion,leaptonitsback,andflewbeforeallofuswiththespeedofthewind.Thereafter,thattheymightkeepupwithhim,allmenweretrappingandbreakingwildhorses.