До Адама

           Buthiswifedidnotwinthisshelter.Anarrowbroughthertotheground.Shewasseverelyhurt,forshemadenoefforttogetaway.Shecrouchedinashelteringwayoverherbaby(whichclungtightlytoher),andmadepleadingsignsandsoundstotheFire-Men.Theygatheredaboutherandlaughedather—evenasLop-EarandIhadlaughedattheoldTree-Man.Andevenaswehadpokedhimwithtwigsandsticks,sodidtheFire-MenwithRed-Eye’swife.Theypokedherwiththeendsoftheirbows,andproddedherintheribs.Butshewaspoorfun.Shewouldnotfight.Nor,forthatmatter,wouldshegetangry.Shecontinuedtocrouchoverherbabyandtoplead.OneoftheFire-Mensteppedclosetoher.Inhishandwasaclub.Shesawandunderstood,butshemadeonlythepleadingsoundsuntiltheblowfell.

           Red-Eye,inthehollowofthetrunk,wassafefromtheirarrows.Theystoodtogetheranddebatedforawhile,thenoneofthemclimbedintothetree.WhathappenedupthereIcouldnottell,butIheardhimyellandsawtheexcitementofthosethatremainedbeneath.Afterseveralminuteshisbodycrasheddowntotheground.Hedidnotmove.Theylookedathimandraisedhishead,butitfellbacklimplywhentheyletgo.Red-Eyehadaccountedforhimself.

           Theywereveryangry.Therewasanopeningintothetrunkclosetotheground.Theygatheredwoodandgrassandbuiltafire.TheSwiftOneandI,ourarmsaroundeachother,waitedandwatchedinthethicket.Sometimestheythrewuponthefiregreenbrancheswithmanyleaves,whereuponthesmokebecameverythick.

           Wesawthemsuddenlyswervebackfromthetree.