До Адама

           Theshadowsgrewlonger,andIpursuedmoreardentlythanever,andstillIcouldnotcatchher.Shemadebelievethatshewastryingdesperatelytoescapeme,andallthetimeshemanagedtokeepjustbeyondreach.Iforgoteverything—time,theoncomingofnight,andmymeat-eatingenemies.Iwasinsanewithloveofher,andwith—anger,too,becauseshewouldnotletmecomeupwithher.Itwasstrangehowthisangeragainstherseemedtobepartofmydesireforher.

           AsIhavesaid,Iforgoteverything.InracingacrossanopenspaceIranfulltiltuponacolonyofsnakes.Theydidnotdeterme.Iwasmad.Theystruckatme,butIduckedanddodgedandranon.Thentherewasapythonthatordinarilywouldhavesentmescreechingtoatree-top.Hedidrunmeintoatree;buttheSwiftOnewasgoingoutofsight,andIsprangbacktothegroundandwenton.Itwasacloseshave.Thentherewasmyoldenemy,thehyena.Frommyconducthewassuresomethingwasgoingtohappen,andhefollowedmeforanhour.Onceweexasperatedabandofwildpigs,andtheytookafterus.TheSwiftOnedaredawideleapbetweentreesthatwastoomuchforme.Ihadtotaketotheground.Therewerethepigs.Ididn’tcare.Istrucktheearthwithinayardofthenearestone.TheyflankedmeasIran,andchasedmeintotwodifferenttreesoutofthelineofmypursuitoftheSwiftOne.Iventuredthegroundagain,doubledback,andcrossedawideopenspace,withthewholebandgrunting,bristling,andtusk-gnashingatmyheels.

           IfIhadtrippedorstumbledinthatopenspace,therewouldhavebeennochanceforme.ButIdidn’t.