До Адама
Chapter X
Sheturneduponmesuddenly,inapettyrage,andscratchedme,toremyhair,andsankhersharplittleteethdeepintomyforearm.Ilostmytemper.Ididnotinjureher,butitwasundoubtedlythesoundestspankingshehadreceiveduptothattime.
Howsheyelledandsqualled.TheChatterer,whohadbeenawayalldayandwhowasonlythenreturning,heardthenoiseandrushedforthespot.Mymotheralsorushed,buthegottherefirst.Lop-EarandIdidnotwaithiscoming.Wewereoffandaway,andtheChatterergaveusthechaseofourlivesthroughthetrees.
Afterthechasewasover,andLop-EarandIhadhadoutourlaugh,wediscoveredthattwilightwasfalling.Herewasnightwithallitsterrorsuponus,andtoreturntothecaveswasoutofthequestion.Red-Eyemadethatimpossible.Wetookrefugeinatreethatstoodapartfromothertrees,andhighupinaforkwepassedthenight.Itwasamiserablenight.Forthefirstfewhoursitrainedheavily,thenitturnedcoldandachillwindblewuponus.Soakedthrough,withshiveringbodiesandchatteringteeth,wehuddledineachother’sarms.Wemissedthesnug,drycavethatsoquicklywarmedwiththeheatofourbodies.
Morningfounduswretchedandresolved.Wewouldnotspendanothersuchnight.Rememberingthetree-sheltersofourelders,wesettoworktomakeoneforourselves.Webuilttheframeworkofaroughnest,andonhigherforksoverheadevengotinseveralridge-polesfortheroof.Thenthesuncameout,andunderitsbenigninfluenceweforgotthehardshipsofthenightandwentoffinsearchofbreakfast.
