До Адама

           Theyweremorehairy,itistrue;theirlegswereatriflemoretwistedandgnarly,theireyesabitsmaller,theirnecksabitthickerandshorter,andtheirnostrilsslightlymorelikeorificesinasunkensurface;buttheyhadnohairontheirfacesandonthepalmsoftheirhandsandthesolesoftheirfeet,andtheymadesoundssimilartoourswithsomewhatsimilarmeanings.Afterall,theTreePeopleandtheFolkwerenotsounlike.

           Ifoundhimfirst,alittlewithered,dried-upoldfellow,wrinkled-facedandbleary-eyedandtottery.Hewaslegitimateprey.Inourworldtherewasnosympathybetweenthekinds,andhewasnotourkind.HewasaTree-Man,andhewasveryold.Hewassittingatthefootofatree—evidentlyhistree,forwecouldseethetatterednestinthebranches,inwhichhesleptatnight.

           IpointedhimouttoLop-Ear,andwemadearushforhim.Hestartedtoclimb,butwastooslow.Icaughthimbytheleganddraggedhimback.Thenwehadfun.Wepinchedhim,pulledhishair,tweakedhisears,andpokedtwigsintohim,andallthewhilewelaughedwithstreamingeyes.Hisfutileangerwasmostabsurd.Hewasacomicalsight,strivingtofanintoflamethecoldashesofhisyouth,toresurrecthisstrengthdeadandgonethroughtheoozingoftheyears—makingwoefulfacesinplaceoftheferociousonesheintended,grindinghiswornteethtogether,beatinghismeagrechestwithfeeblefists.

           Also,hehadacough,andhegaspedandhackedandsplutteredprodigiously.