,,*APT] ,,XI

,X M/ 2 REMEMB]$ T ! DESCRIP;N ,I H J
GIV5 (! ,SWIFT ,"O IS N ! DESCRIP;N T
WD H BE5 GIV5 0,BIG-,TOO?1 MY O!R SELF (
  MY
DR1MS1 MY PREHI/ORIC ANCE/OR4 ,X IS 0!
  M$IUM (
MY DR1MS T ,I1 ! MOD]N MAN1 LOOK "? !
  EYES
( ,BIG-,TOO? & SEE4













,& S X IS ) M* T ,I N>RATE (! EV5TS (
T F>-(F "T4 ,"! IS A DUAL;Y AB MY
IMPRES.NS T IS TOO 3FUS+ 69FLICT ^U MY
R1D]S4 ,I % M]ELY PAUSE "H 9 MY N>RATIVE
  TO
9DICATE ? DUAL;Y1 ? P]PLEX+ MIX+ (
P]SONAL;Y4 ,X IS ,I1 ! MOD]N1 :O LOOK
  BACK ACR
! C5TURIES & WEI< & ANALYZE ! EMO;NS &
MOTIVES ( ,BIG-,TOO?1 MY O!R SELF4 ,HE
  DID N
BO!R 6WEI< & ANALYZE4 ,HE 0 SIMPLIC;Y
  XF4
,HE J LIV$ EV5TS1 )\T "E POND]+ :Y HE
LIV$ !M 9 8 "PICUL> & (T5 ]RATIC WAY4










,Z ,I1 MY R1L SELF1 GREW OLD]1 ,I 5T]$ M
  & M
96! SUB/.E ( MY DR1MS4 ,"O MAY DR1M1 &
EV5 9 ! MID/ (! DR1M 2 AW>E T HE IS
DR1M+1 & IF ! DR1M 2 BAD1 -=T HMF )
! ?"\ T X IS ONLY A DR1M4 ,? IS A -MON
EXP]I;E ) ALL ( U4 ,& S X 0 T ,I1 !
MOD]N1 (T5 5T]$ 96MY DR1M+1 & 9 !
3SEQU5T /RANGE DUAL P]SONAL;Y 0 BO?
  ACTOR &
SPECTATOR4 ,& "R (T5 H ,I1 ! MOD]N1 BE5
P]TURB$ & VEX$ 0! FOOLI%;S1 ILLOGIC1
OBTUSE;S1 & G5]AL ALL-R.D /UP5D\S
  /UPID;Y
( MYF1 ! PRIMITIVE4

,& "O ?+ M1 2F ,I 5D ? DIGRES.N4 ,H
Y "E DR1M$ T Y DR1M$8 ,DOGS DR1M1 HORSES
DR1M1 ALL ANIMALS DR1M4 ,9 ,BIG-,TOO?'S
  "D !
HALF-M5 DR1M$1 & :5 ! DR1MS 7 BAD !Y
H[L$ 9 _! SLEEP4 ,N[ ,I1 ! MOD]N1 H LA9
D[N ) ,BIG-,TOO? & DR1M$ 8 DR1MS4


,? IS GETT+ ALM 2Y ! GRIP (!
9TELLECT1 ,I "K2 B ,I D "K T ,I H D"O ?
?+4 ,& LET ME TELL Y T ! FLY+ &
CRAWL+ DR1MS ( ,BIG-,TOO? 7 Z VIVID 6HM
  Z
! FALL+-"?-SPACE DR1M IS 6Y4

,= ,BIG-,TOO? AL _H AN O!R-SELF1 & :5 HE
  SLEPT
T O!R-SELF DR1M$ BACK 96! PA/1 BACK 6!
W+$ REPTILES &! CLA% &! ONSET ( DRAGONS1
& 2Y T 6! SCURRY+1 ROD5T-L LIFE (
! T9Y MAMMALS1 & F> REMOT] /1 6!
%ORE-SLIME (! PRIMEVAL SEA4 ,I _C1 ,I
  D>E N1
SAY M4 ,X IS ALL TOO VAGUE & -PLICAT$ &
AW;L4 ,I C ONLY H9T ( ^? VA/ & T]RIFIC
VI/AS "? : ,I H PE]$ HAZILY AT !
PROGRES.N ( LIFE1 N UPW>D F ! APE 6MAN1
B UPW>D F ! WORM4





,& N[ 6RETURN 6MY TALE4 ,I1 ,BIG-,TOO?1
  KNEW N
! ,SWIFT ,"O Z A CR1TURE ( F9] FACIAL &
  BODILY
SYMMETRY1 ) L;G-LA%$ EYES &A BRIDGE 6H]
NOSE & D[N-OP5+ NO/RILS T MADE T[>D
  B1UTY4
,I KNEW H] ONLY Z ! MILD-EY$ "Y FEMALE
  :O MADE
S(T S.DS & DID N FI<T4 ,I LIK$ 6PLAY )
H]1 ,I KNEW N :Y1 6SEEK FOOD 9 H] -PANY1
  &
6G BIRD-NE/+ ) H]4 ,& ,I M/ 3FESS %E
TAU<T ME ?+S AB TREE-CLIMB+4 ,%E 0 V
WISE1 V /R;G1 & NO CL++ SKIRTS IMP$$ H]
MOVE;TS4









,X 0 AB ? "T T A SLI<T DEFEC;N >OSE ON
! "P ( ,LOP-,E>4 ,HE GOT 96! HABIT (
W&]+ (F 9 ! DIREC;N (! TREE ": MY
"M LIV$4 ,HE _H TAK5 A LIK+ 6MY VICI\S
SI/]1 &! ,*ATT]] _H -E 6TOL]ATE HM4
,AL1 "! 7 S"EAL O!R "Y P1 PROG5Y (
! MONOGAMIC C\PLES T LIV$ 9 !
  NEI<BORHOOD1
& ,LOP-,E> PLAY$ ) ^! "Y P4
















,I CD N"E GET ! ,SWIFT ,"O 6JO9 ) !M4
,:5"E ,I VISIT$ !M %E DROPP$ 2H &
4APPE>$4 ,I REMEMB] ONCE MAK+ A /R;G
  EF=T TO
P]SUADE H]4 ,B %E CA/ BACKW>D1 ANXI\S
  GL.ES1
!N RETR1T$1 CALL+ 6ME F A TREE4 ,S X 0
T ,I DID N MAKE A PRACTICE ( A3OMPANY+
  ,LOP-,E>
:5 HE W5T 6VISIT 8 NEW FRS4 ,! ,SWIFT
  ,"O
& ,I 7 GD -RADES1 B1 TRY Z ,I WD1 ,I CD
N"E F9D H] TREE-%ELT]4 ,UND\BT$LY1 _H
  NO?+
HAPP5$1 WE WD H SOON MAT$1 = \R LIK+ 0
MUTUAL2 B ! "S?+ DID HAPP54









,"O MORN+1 ! ,SWIFT ,"O N HAV+ PUT 9 AN
APPE>.E1 ,LOP-,E> & ,I 7 D[N AT ! M\? (
! SL\< PLAY+ ON ! LOGS4 ,WE _H SC>CELY
  GOT
\ ON ! WAT]1 :5 WE 7 />TL$ 0A RO> (
RAGE4 ,X 0 ,R$-,EYE4 ,HE 0 CR\*+ ON !
  $GE (
! TIMB] JAM & GL[]+ 8 HATR$ AT U4 ,WE 7
BADLY F"R5$1 = "H 0 NO N>R[-M\!D CAVE

= REFUGE4 ,B ! TW5TY FEET ( WAT] T
9T]V5$ GAVE U TEMPOR>Y SAFETY1 & WE
  PLUCK$ UP
C\RAGE4











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  HAIRY
*E/ ) 8 FI/4 ,\R TWO LOGS 7 SIDE 0SIDE1
& WE SAT ON !M & LAU<$ AT HM4 ,AT F/ \R
LAU<T] 0 HALF-HE>T$1 T+$ ) FE>1 B Z WE
2CAME 3V9C$ ( 8 IMPOT;E WE WAX$
  UPRO>I\S4
,HE RAG$ & RAG$ AT U1 & GR.D 8 TEE? 9
HELP.S FURY4 ,& 9 \R FANCI$ SECUR;Y WE
  MOCK$
& MOCK$ HM4 ,WE 7 "E %ORT-SI<T$1 WE
  ,FOLK4













,R$-,EYE ABRUPTLY C1S$ 8 BR1/-B1T+ &
TOO?-GR9D+1 & RAN ACR ! TIMB]-JAM 6!
%ORE4 ,& J Z ABRUPTLY \R M]RI;T GAVE WAY
  TO
3/]N,N4 ,X 0 N ,R$-,EYE'S WAY 6=EGO
REV5GE S EASILY4 ,WE WAIT$ 9 FE> &
  TREMBL+ =
:AT"E 0 6HAPP54 ,X N"E /RUCK U 6PA4LE
AWAY4 ,HE CAME BACK ) GRT L1PS ACR !
  JAM1
"O HUGE H& FILL$ ) R.D1 WAT]-WA%$ PEB#S4
,I AM GLAD T HE 0 UNA# 6F9D L>G]
  MISSILES1
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  NO
M ?AN A SCORE ( FEET AWAY1 & HE SURELY
  WD
H KILL$ U4







,Z X WAS1 WE 7 9 NO SMALL DANG]4 ,ZIP6
  ,A T9Y
PEB# :IRR$ PA/ )! =CE ALM (A BULLET4
,LOP-,E> & ,I 2GAN PA4L+ FRANTIC,Y4
,:IZ-ZIP-BANG 6 ,LOP-,E> SCR1M$ ) SU45
  ANGUI%4
,! PEB# _H /RUCK HM 2T ! %\LD]S4 ,!N ,I
GOT "O & YELL$4 ,! ONLY ?+ T SAV$ U 0
! EXHAU/+ ( ,R$-,EYE'S AMMUNI;N4 ,HE
  DA%$ BACK
6! GRAVEL-B$ = M1 :ILE ,LOP-,E> & ,I
PA4L$ AWAY4













,GRADU,Y WE DREW \ ( RANGE1 ?\< ,R$-,EYE
3T9U$ MAK+ TRIPS = M AMMUNI;N &!
PEB#S 3T9U$ 6:IZ AB U4 ,\ 9 ! C5TRE
(! SL\< "! 0 A SLI<T CURR5T1 & 9 \R
EXCITE;T WE FAIL$ 6NOTICE T X 0 DRIFT+ U
96! RIV]4 ,WE PA4L$1 & ,R$-,EYE KEPT Z
  CLOSE
Z HE CD 6U 0FOLL[+ AL;G ! %ORE4 ,!N
HE 4COV]$ L>G] ROCKS4 ,S* AMMUNI;N
  9CR1S$
8 RANGE4 ,"O FRAG;T1 FULLY FIVE P.DS 9
  WEI<T1
CRA%$ ON ! LOG AL;GSIDE ( ME1 & S* 0 XS
IMPACT T X DROVE A SCORE ( SPL9T]S1 L
  FI]Y
NE$LES1 96MY LEG4 ,_H X /RUCK ME X WD H
KILL$ ME4








,& !N ! RIV] CURR5T CAU<T U4 ,S WILDLY 7
WE PA4L+ T ,R$-,EYE 0 ! F/ 6NOTICE X1
& \R F/ W>N+ 0 8 YELL ( TRIUMPH4 ,":
! $GE (! CURR5T /RUCK ! SL\<-WAT] 0 A
S]IES ( $DIES OR SMALL :IRLPOOLS4 ,^!
  CAU<T \R
CLUMSY LOGS & :IRL$ !M 5D = 5D1 BACK &
=? & >.D4 ,WE QUIT PA4L+ & DEVOT$ \R
:OLE 5]GY 6HOLD+ ! LOGS TGR AL;GSIDE
EA* O!R4 ,9 ! M1N:ILE ,R$-,EYE 3T9U$ TO
BOMB>D U1 ! ROCK FRAG;TS FALL+ AB U1
SPLA%+ WAT] ON U1 & M5AC+ \R LIVES4 ,AT
  !
SAME "T HE GLOAT$ OV] U1 WILDLY &
  VOCIF]\SLY4










,X HAPP5$ T "! 0 A %>P TURN 9 ! RIV] AT
! PO9T ": ! SL\< 5T]$1 &! :OLE MA9
CURR5T (! RIV] 0 DEFLECT$ 6! O!R BANK4
,& T[>D T BANK1 : 0 ! NOR? BANK1 WE
DRIFT$ RAPIDLY1 AT ! SAME "T GO+ D[N-
  /R1M4
,? QKLY TOOK U \ ( RANGE ( ,R$-,EYE1 &!
LA/ WE SAW ( HM 0 F> \ ON A PO9T ( L&1
": HE 0 JUMP+ UP & D[N & *ANT+ A PAEAN
( VICTORY4

,2Y HOLD+ ! TWO LOGS TGR1 ,LOP-,E> & ,I
  DID
NO?+4 ,WE 7 RESIGN$ 6\R FATE1 & WE
  REMA9$
RESIGN$ UNTIL WE >\S$ 6! FACT T WE 7
DRIFT+ AL;G ! NOR? %ORE N A HUNDR$ FEET
  AWAY4
,WE 2GAN 6PA4LE = X4 ,"H ! MA9 =CE (!
CURR5T 0 FLUNG BACK T[>D ! S\? %ORE1 &!
RESULT ( \R PA4L+ 0 T WE CROSS$ ! CURR5T
": X 0 SWIFTE/ & N>R[E/4 ,2F WE 7
AW>E1 WE 7 \ ( X & 9 A QUIET $DY4


,\R LOGS DRIFT$ SL[LY & AT LA/ GR.D$
  G5TLY ON
! BANK4 ,LOP-,E> & ,I CREPT A%ORE4 ,!
  LOGS DRIFT$
ON \ (! $DY & SWEPT AWAY D[N ! /R1M4 ,WE
LOOK$ AT EA* O!R1 B WE DID N LAU<4 ,WE 7
  9
A /RANGE L&1 & X DID N 5T] \R M9DS T WE
CD RETURN 6\R [N L& 9 ! SAME MANN] T WE
_H -E4

,WE _H LE>N$ H[ 6CROSS A RIV]1 ?\< WE
  DID N
"K X4 ,& ? 0 "S?+ T NO "O ELSE (!
,FOLK _H "E D"O4 ,WE 7 ! F/ (! ,FOLK TO
SET FOOT ON ! NOR? BANK (! RIV]1 &1 = T
MATT]1 ,I 2LIEVE ! LA/4 ,T !Y WD H D"O
S 9 ! "T 6-E IS UND\BT$2 B ! MIGR,N
(! ,FIRE ,P1 &! 3SEQU5T MIGR,N (!
SURVIVORS (! ,FOLK1 SET BACK \R EVOLU;N
  =
C5TURIES4



,9DE$1 "! IS NO TELL+ H[ 4A/R\S 0 6BE
! \TCOME (! ,FIRE ,P'S MIGR,N4
,P]SON,Y1 ,I AM PR"O 62LIEVE T X BR"\ AB
! DE/RUC;N (! ,FOLK2 T WE1 A BRAN* ( L[]
LIFE BU4+ T[>D ! HUMAN1 7 NIPP$ %ORT (F
& P]I%$ D[N 0! RO>+ SURF ": ! RIV]
5T]$ ! SEA4 ,( C\RSE1 9 S* AN EV5TUAL;Y1
  ,I
REMA9 6BE A3.T$ =2 B ,I \TRUN MY /ORY1 &
S* A3.T+ W 2 MADE 2F ,I AM D"O4