Chapter I

           Pictures!Pictures!Pictures!Often,beforeIlearned,didIwonderwhencecamethemultitudesofpicturesthatthrongedmydreams;fortheywerepicturesthelikeofwhichIhadneverseeninrealwake-a-daylife.Theytormentedmychildhood,makingofmydreamsaprocessionofnightmaresandalittlelaterconvincingmethatIwasdifferentfrommykind,acreatureunnaturalandaccursed.

           InmydaysonlydidIattainanymeasureofhappiness.Mynightsmarkedthereignoffear—andsuchfear!Imakeboldtostatethatnomanofallthemenwhowalktheearthwithmeeversufferfearoflikekindanddegree.Formyfearisthefearoflongago,thefearthatwasrampantintheYoungerWorld,andintheyouthoftheYoungerWorld.Inshort,thefearthatreignedsupremeinthatperiodknownastheMid-Pleistocene.

           WhatdoImean?IseeexplanationisnecessarybeforeIcantellyouofthesubstanceofmydreams.Otherwise,littlecouldyouknowofthemeaningofthethingsIknowsowell.AsIwritethis,allthebeingsandhappeningsofthatotherworldriseupbeforemeinvastphantasmagoria,andIknowthattoyoutheywouldberhymelessandreasonless.

           WhattoyouthefriendshipofLop-Ear,thewarmlureoftheSwiftOne,thelustandtheatavismofRed-Eye?Ascreamingincoherenceandnomore.Andascreamingincoherence,likewise,thedoingsoftheFirePeopleandtheTreePeople,andthegibberingcouncilsofthehorde.Foryouknownotthepeaceofthecoolcavesinthecliffs,thecircusofthedrinking-placesattheendoftheday.