До Адама
Chapter V
AgainIranafterhim,andagainheranintothecave;butthistimeIstoppedatthemouth.Idroppedbackashortdistanceandwatched.Hedidnotcomeout,yet,asbefore,hechuckledatmyelbowandwaschasedbymeathirdtimeintothecave.
Thisperformancewasrepeatedseveraltimes.ThenIfollowedhimintothecave,whereIsearchedvainlyforhim.Iwascurious.Icouldnotunderstandhowheeludedme.Alwayshewentintothecave,neverdidhecomeoutofit,yetalwaysdidhearrivethereatmyelbowandmockme.Thusdidourfighttransformitselfintoagameofhideandseek.
Allafternoon,withoccasionalintervals,wekeptitup,andaplayful,friendlyspiritarosebetweenus.Intheend,hedidnotrunawayfromme,andwesattogetherwithourarmsaroundeachother.Alittlelaterhedisclosedthemysteryofthewide-mouthedcave.Holdingmebythehandheledmeinside.Itconnectedbyanarrowcrevicewithanothercave,anditwasthroughthisthatweregainedtheopenair.
Wewerenowgoodfriends.Whentheotheryoungonesgatheredaroundtotease,hejoinedwithmeinattackingthem;andsoviciouslydidwebehavethatbeforelongIwasletalone.Lop-Earmademeacquaintedwiththevillage.Therewaslittlethathecouldtellmeofconditionsandcustoms—hehadnotthenecessaryvocabulary;butbyobservinghisactionsIlearnedmuch,andalsoheshowedmeplacesandthings.
Hetookmeuptheopenspace,betweenthecavesandtheriver,andintotheforestbeyond,where,inagrassyplaceamongthetrees,wemadeamealofstringy-rootedcarrots
