Алая чума

           Thecoyotesweregreatlyincreased,anditwasatthistimethatIfirstencounteredwolves,strayingintwosandthreesandsmallpacksdownfromtheregionswheretheyhadalwayspersisted. 

           “ItwasatLakeTemescal,notfarfromtheone-timecityofOakland,thatIcameuponthefirstlivehumanbeings. Oh,mygrandsons,howcanIdescribetoyoumyemotion,when,astridemyhorseanddroppingdownthehillsidetothelake,Isawthesmokeofacampfirerisingthroughthetrees. Almostdidmyheartstopbeating. IfeltthatIwasgoingcrazy. ThenIheardthecryofababe—ahumanbabe. Anddogsbarked,andmydogsanswered. IdidnotknowbutwhatIwastheonehumanaliveinthewholeworld. Itcouldnotbetruethatherewereothers—smoke,andthecryofababe. 

           “Emergingonthelake,there,beforemyeyes,notahundredyardsaway,Isawaman,alargeman. Hewasstandingonanoutjuttingrockandfishing. Iwasovercome. Istoppedmyhorse. Itriedtocalloutbutcouldnot. Iwavedmyhand. Itseemedtomethatthemanlookedatme,buthedidnotappeartowave. ThenIlaidmyheadonmyarmsthereinthesaddle. Iwasafraidtolookagain,forIknewitwasanhallucination,andIknewthatifIlookedthemanwouldbegone. Andsopreciouswasthehallucination,thatIwantedittopersistyetalittlewhile. Iknew,too,thataslongasIdidnotlookitwouldpersist. 

           “ThusIremained,untilIheardmydogssnarling,andaman’svoice. Whatdoyouthinkthevoicesaid? Iwilltellyou.