,,*APT] ,,XIII

,X 0 N UNTIL ! NI<T ( \R F/ "D ON !
S\? BANK (! RIV] T WE 4COV]$ ! ,FIRE
,P4 ,:AT M/ H BE5 A B& ( W&]+
HUNT]S W5T 96CAMP N F> F ! TREE 9 :
,LOP-,E> & ,I _H ELECT$ 6ROO/ =! NI<T4
  ,!
VOICES (! ,FIRE ,P AT F/ AL>M$ U1 B
LAT]1 :5 D>K;S _H -E1 WE 7 ATTRACT$ 0!
FIRE4 ,WE CREPT CAUTI\SLY & SIL5TLY F
  TREE TO
TREE TILL WE GOT A GD VIEW (! SC5E4











,9 AN OP5 SPACE AM;G ! TREES1 NE> 6!
  RIV]1
! FIRE 0 BURN+4 ,AB X 7 HALF A DOZ5
,FIRE-,M54 ,LOP-,E> CLUT*$ ME SU45LY1 &
  ,I CD
FEEL HM TREM#4 ,I LOOK$ M CLOSELY1 & SAW
  !
WIZ5$ LL OLD HUNT] :O _H %OT ,BROK5-
  ,TOO? \
(! TREE YE>S 2F4 ,:5 HE GOT UP & WALK$
AB1 ?R[+ FRE% WOOD ^U ! FIRE1 ,I SAW T
  HE
LIMP$ ) 8 CRIPPL$ LEG4 ,:AT"E X WAS1 X 0
A P]MAN5T 9JURY4 ,HE SEEM$ M DRI$ UP &
WIZ5$ ?AN "E1 &! HAIR ON 8 FACE 0 Q
GRAY4









,! O!R HUNT]S 7 "Y M54 ,I NOT$1 LY+ NE>
!M ON ! GR.D1 _! B[S & >R[S1 & ,I KNEW
! W1PONS = :AT !Y W]E4 ,! ,FIRE-,M5 WORE
ANIMAL SK9S >.D _! WAI/S & ACR _!
%\LD]S4 ,_! >MS & LEGS1 H["E1 7 B>E1
& !Y WORE NO FOOTGE>4 ,Z ,I H SD 2F1 !Y
7 N Q S HAIRY Z WE (! ,FOLK4 ,!Y DID
N H L>GE H1DS1 & 2T !M &! ,FOLK
"! 0 V LL DI6];E 9 ! DEGREE (!
SLANT (! H1D BACK F ! EYES4















,!Y 7 LESS /OOP$ ?AN WE1 LESS SPR+Y 9 _!
MOVE;TS4 ,_! BACKB"OS & HIPS & KNEE-
  JO9TS
SEEM$ M RIGID4 ,_! >MS 7 N S L;G Z \RS
EI1 & ,I DID N NOTICE T !Y "E BAL.ED
!MVS :5 !Y WALK$1 0T\*+ ! GR.D ON
EI SIDE ) _! H&S4 ,AL1 _! MUSCLES 7
M R.D$ & SYMMETRICAL ?AN \RS1 & _! FACES
7 M PL1S+4 ,_! NOSE ORIFICES OP5$
D[NW>D2 LIKEWISE ! BRIDGES ( _! NOSES 7
  M
DEVELOP$1 DID N LOOK S SQUAT NOR CRU%$ Z
  \RS4
,_! LIPS 7 LESS FLA2Y & P5D5T1 & _!
EYE-TEE? DID N LOOK S M* L FANGS4 ,H["E1
!Y 7 Q Z ?9-HIPP$ Z WE1 & DID N WEI<
M* M4 ,TAKE X ALL 9 ALL1 !Y 7 LESS
  DI6]5T
F U ?AN 7 WE F ! ,TREE ,P4 ,C]TA9LY1
ALL ?REE K9DS 7 RELAT$1 & N S REMOTELY
RELAT$ AT T4




,! FIRE >.D : !Y SAT 0 ESPECI,Y
ATTRACTIVE4 ,LOP-,E> & ,I SAT = H\RS1
  WAT*+ !
FLAMES & SMOKE4 ,X 0 MO/ FASC9AT+ :5
  FRE%
FUEL 0 ?R[N ON & %[]S ( SP>KS W5T FLY+
UPW>D4 ,I WANT$ 6-E CLOS] & LOOK AT !
  FIRE1
B "! 0 NO WAY4 ,WE 7 CR\*+ 9 ! =KS
(A TREE ON ! $GE (! OP5 SPACE1 & WE DID
  N
D>E RUN ! RISK ( 2+ 4COV]$4













,! ,FIRE-,M5 SQUATT$ >.D ! FIRE & SLEPT
  )
_! H1DS B[$ =W>D ON _! KNEES4 ,!Y DID N
SLEEP S.DLY4 ,_! E>S TWIT*$ 9 _! SLEEP1
  &
!Y 7 RE/.S4 ,E LL :ILE "O OR ANO!R
GOT UP & ?REW M WOOD ^U ! FIRE4 ,AB !
CIRCLE ( LI<T 9 ! =E/1 9 ! D>K;S 2Y1
ROAM$ HUNT+ ANIMALS4 ,LOP-,E> & ,I CD
  TELL !M
0_! S.DS4 ,"! 7 WILD DOGS &A HY5A1 &
=A "T "! 0 A GRT YELP+ & SN>L+ T
AWAK5$ ON ! 9/ANT ! :OLE CIRCLE ( SLEEP+
,FIRE-,M54











,ONCE A LION &A LIO;S /OOD 2N \R TREE &
GAZ$ \ ) BRI/L+ HAIR & BL9K+ EYES4 ,!
LION LICK$ 8 *OPS & 0 N]V\S ) EAG];S1
Z IF HE WANT$ 6G =W>D & MAKE A M1L4 ,B !
LIO;S 0 M CAUTI\S4 ,X 0 %E T 4COV]$
U1 &! PAIR /OOD & LOOK$ UP AT U1
  SIL5TLY1
) TWIT*+1 SC5T+ NO/RILS4 ,!N !Y GR[L$1
LOOK$ ONCE AG AT ! FIRE1 & TURN$ AWAY
  96!
=E/4

,=A M* L;G] "T ,LOP-,E> & ,I REMA9$ &
WAT*$4 ,N[ & AG WE CD HE> ! CRA%+ (
H1VY BODIES 9 ! ?ICKETS & "UBRU%1 & F
! D>K;S (! O!R SIDE1 ACR ! CIRCLE1 WE
CD SEE EYES GL1M+ 9 ! FIRELI<T4 ,9 !
4T.E WE HE>D A LION RO>1 & F F> (F CAME
! SCR1M ( "S /RICK5 ANIMAL1 SPLA%+ &
FL.D]+ 9 A DR9K+-PLACE4 ,AL1 F ! RIV]1
CAME A GRT GRUNT+ ( RH9OC]OSES4




,9 ! MORN+1 AF HAV+ _H \R SLEEP1 WE
  CREPT
BACK 6! FIRE4 ,X 0 / SM\LD]+1 &!
,FIRE-,M5 7 G"O4 ,WE MADE A CIRCLE "? !
=E/ 6MAKE SURE1 & !N WE RAN 6! FIRE4 ,I
WANT$ 6SEE :AT X 0 L1 & 2T ?UMB &

F+] ,I PICK$ UP A GL[+ COAL4 ,MY CRY (
  PA9 &
FE>1 Z ,I DROPP$ X1 /AMP$$ ,LOP-,E> 96!
TREES1 & 8 FLI<T F"R5$ ME AF HM4














,! NEXT "T WE CAME BACK M CAUTI\SLY1 &
  WE
AVOID$ ! GL[+ COALS4 ,WE FELL 6IMITAT+ !
,FIRE-,M54 ,WE SQUATT$ D[N 0! FIRE1 &)
  H1DS
B5T =W>D ON \R KNEES1 MADE 2LIEVE
  6SLEEP4 ,!N
WE MIMICK$ _! SPEE*1 TALK+ 6EA* O!R 9
_! FA%ION & MAK+ A GRT GI2]I%4 ,I
REMEMB]$ SEE+ ! WIZ5$ OLD HUNT] POKE !
  FIRE
)A /ICK4 ,I POK$ ! FIRE )A /ICK1 TURN+
UP MASSES ( LIVE COALS & CL\DS ( :ITE
  A%ES4
,? 0 GRT SPORT1 & SOON WE 7 COAT$ :ITE
)! A%ES4









,X 0 9EVITA# T WE %D IMITATE ! ,FIRE-,M5
9 REPL5I%+ ! FIRE4 ,WE TRI$ X F/ ) SMALL
PIECES ( WOOD4 ,X 0 A SU3ESS4 ,! WOOD
  FLAM$ UP
& CRACKL$1 & WE D.ED & GI2]$ ) DELI<T4
,!N WE 2GAN 6?R[ ON L>G] PIECES ( WOOD4
  ,WE
PUT ON M & M1 UNTIL WE _H A MI<TY FIRE4
  ,WE
DA%$ EXCIT$LY BACK & =?1 DRA7+ D1D LIMBS
& BRAN*ES F \ ! =E/4 ,! FLAMES SO>$
HI<] & HI<]1 &! SMOKE-COLUMN \-T[]$ !
TREES4 ,"! 0 A TREM5D\S SNAPP+ & CRACKL+
& RO>+4 ,X 0 ! MO/ MONU;TAL "W WE _H
"E E6ECT$ ) \R H&S1 & WE 7 PR\D ( X4
,WE1 TOO1 7 ,FIRE-,M51 WE ?"\1 Z WE D.ED
  "!1
:ITE GNOMES 9 ! 3FLAGR,N4

,! DRI$ GRASS & "UBRU% CAU<T FIRE1 B WE
  DID
N NOTICE X4 ,SU45LY A GRT TREE ON ! $GE
  (
! OP5 SPACE BUR/ 96FLAMES4

,WE LOOK$ AT X ) />TL$ EYES4 ,! H1T ( X
DROVE U BACK4 ,ANO!R TREE CAU<T1 &
  ANO!R1 &
!N HALF A DOZ54 ,WE 7 F"R5$4 ,! MON/]
_H BROK5 LOOSE4 ,WE CR\*$ D[N 9 FE>1
  :ILE !
FIRE ATE >.D ! CIRCLE & HEMM$ U IN4 ,9TO
,LOP-,E>'S EYES CAME ! PLA9TIVE LOOK T
  ALW
A3OMPANI$ 9COMPREH5.N1 & ,I "K T 9 MY
  EYES
M/ H BE5 ! SAME LOOK4 ,WE HU4L$1 ) \R
>MS >.D EA* O!R1 UNTIL ! H1T 2GAN 6R1*
U &! ODOR ( BURN+ HAIR 0 9 \R NO/RILS4
,!N WE MADE A DA% ( X1 & FL$ AWAY WE/W>D
"? ! =E/1 LOOK+ BACK & LAU<+ Z WE
RAN4








,0! MI4LE (! "D WE CAME 6A NECK ( L&1
MADE1 Z WE AFW 4COV]$1 0A GRT CURVE (
! RIV] T ALM -PLET$ A CIRCLE4 ,"R ACR
! NECK LAY BUN*$ S"EAL L[ & "PLY WOOD$
HILLS4 ,OV] ^! WE CLIMB$1 LOOK+ BACKW>D
  AT !
=E/ : _H 2COME A SEA ( FLAME T SWEPT
EA/W>D 2F A RIS+ W9D4 ,WE 3T9U$ 6!
WE/1 FOLL[+ ! RIV] BANK1 & 2F WE KNEW X
WE 7 9 ! MID/ (! ABID+-PLACE (! ,FIRE
,P4














,? ABID+-PLACE 0 A SPL5DID /RATEGIC
  SELEC;N4
,X 0 A P59SULA1 PROTECT$ ON ?REE SIDES
  0!
CURV+ RIV]4 ,ON ONLY "O SIDE 0 X A3ESSI#
  BY
L&4 ,? 0 ! N>R[ NECK (! P59SULA1 &
"H ! S"EAL L[ HILLS 7 A NATURAL OB/ACLE4
,PRACTIC,Y ISOLAT$ F ! RE/ (! _W1 !
,FIRE ,P M/ H "H LIV$ & PROSP]$ =A
L;G "T4 ,9 FACT1 ,I ?9K X 0 _! PROSP];Y
T 0 RESPONSI# =! SUBSEQU5T MIGR,N T
"W$ S* CALAM;Y ^U ! ,FOLK4 ,! ,FIRE ,P
M/ H 9CR1S$ 9 NUMB]S UNTIL !Y PRESS$
UNCOM=TABLY AG/ ! B.DS ( _! HABITAT4
,!Y 7 EXP&+1 & 9 ! C\RSE ( _!
EXP&+ !Y DROVE ! ,FOLK 2F !M1 & SETTL$
D[N !MVS 9 ! CAVES & O3UPI$ ! T]RITORY
T WE _H O3UPI$4






,B ,LOP-,E> & ,I LL DR1M$ ( ALL ? :5 WE
F.D \RVS 9 ! ,FIRE ,P'S /R;GHOLD4 ,WE
_H B "O IDEA1 & T 0 6GET AWAY1 ?\< WE
CD N =BE> HUMOR+ \R CURIOS;Y 0PEEP+ \
^U ! VILLAGE4 ,=! F/ "T WE SAW ! WOM5
& *N (! ,FIRE ,P4 ,! LATT] RAN =
! MO/ "P NAK$1 ?\< ! =M] WORE SK9S (
WILD ANIMALS4

















,! ,FIRE ,P1 L \RVS1 LIV$ 9 CAVES4 ,!
OP5 SPACE 9 FRONT (! CAVES SLOP$ D[N 6!
RIV]1 & 9 ! OP5 SPACE BURN$ _M SMALL
  FIRES4
,B :E!R OR N ! ,FIRE ,P COOK$ _! FOOD1
  ,I
D N "K4 ,LOP-,E> & ,I DID N SEE !M COOK4
  ,YET
X IS MY OP9ION T !Y SURELY M/ H P]=M$
"S SORT ( RUDE COOK]Y4 ,L U1 !Y C>RI$
  WAT]
9 G\RDS F ! RIV]4 ,"! 0 M* -+ &
GO+1 & L\D CRIES MADE 0! WOM5 & *N4
,! LATT] PLAY$ AB & CUT UP ANTICS Q 9 !
SAME WAY Z DID ! *N (! ,FOLK1 & !Y M
NE>LY RESEM#D ! *N (! ,FOLK ?AN DID !
GR[N ,FIRE ,P RESEM# ! GR[N ,FOLK4








,LOP-,E> & ,I DID N L+] L;G4 ,WE SAW "S
  (!
"P-GR[N BOYS %OOT+ ) B[ & >R[1 & WE
SN1K$ BACK 96! ?ICK] =E/ & MADE \R WAY
6! RIV]4 ,& "! WE F.D A CATAM>AN1 A R1L
CATAM>AN1 "O EVID5TLY MADE 0"S ,FIRE-
  ,MAN4 ,!
TWO LOGS 7 SMALL & /RAI<T1 & 7 LA%$
TGR 0M1NS ( T\< ROOTS & CROSSPIECES (
WOOD4

,? "T ! IDEA O3URR$ SIMULTANE\SLY 6U4
  ,WE
7 TRY+ 6ESCAPE \ (! ,FIRE ,P'S
T]RITORY4 ,:AT BETT] WAY ?AN 0CROSS+ !
  RIV]
ON ^! LOGS8 ,WE CLIMB$ ON BO>D & %OV$
  (F4 ,A
SU45 "S?+ GRIPP$ ! CATAM>AN & FLUNG X
D[N/R1M VIOL5TLY AG/ ! BANK4 ,! ABRUPT
/OPPAGE ALM :IPP$ U (F 96! WAT]4 ,!
CATAM>AN 0 TI$ 6A TREE 0A ROPE ( TWI/$
ROOTS4 ,? WE UNTI$ 2F %OV+ (F AG4


,0! "T WE _H PA4L$ WELL \ 96! CURR5T1
WE _H DRIFT$ S F> D[N/R1M T WE 7 9 FULL
VIEW (! ,FIRE ,P'S ABID+-PLACE4 ,S
  O3UPI$
7 WE ) \R PA4L+1 \R EYES FIX$ ^U !
O!R BANK1 T WE KNEW NO?+ UNTIL >\S$ 0A
YELL F ! %ORE4 ,WE LOOK$ >.D4 ,"! 7 !
,FIRE ,P1 _M ( !M1 LOOK+ AT U & PO9T+
AT U1 & M 7 CRAWL+ \ (! CAVES4 ,WE SAT
UP 6WAT*1 & =GOT ALL AB PA4L+4 ,"! 0
A GRT HULLABALOO ON ! %ORE4 ,"S (!
  ,FIRE-,M5
4*>G$ _! B[S AT U1 &A FEW (! >R[S
FELL NE> U1 B ! RANGE 0 TOO GRT4

,X 0 A GRT "D = ,LOP-,E> & ME4 ,6! EA/ !
3FLAGR,N WE _H />T$ 0 FILL+ HALF ! SKY
) SMOKE4 ,& "H WE W]E1 P]FECTLY SAFE 9 !
MI4LE (! RIV]1 5CIRCL+ ! ,FIRE ,P'S
/R;GHOLD4 ,WE SAT & LAU<$ AT !M Z WE
  DA%$
BY1 SW++ S\?1 & S\?EA/ 6EA/1 & EV5 TO
NOR?EA/1 & !N EA/ AG1 S\?EA/ & S\? &
ON >.D 6! WE/1 A GRT D\# CURVE ": !
RIV] NE>LY TI$ A KNOT 9 XF4
,Z WE SWEPT ON 6! WE/1 ! ,FIRE ,P F> 2H1
A FAMILI> SC5E FLA%$ ^U \R EYES4

,X 0 ! GRT DR9K+-PLACE1 ": WE _H W&]$
ONCE OR TWICE 6WAT* ! CIRCUS (! ANIMALS
  :5
!Y CAME D[N 6DR9K4 ,2Y X1 WE KNEW1 0 !
C>ROT PAT*1 & 2Y T ! CAVES &!
ABID+-PLACE (! HORDE4 ,WE 2GAN 6PA4LE =!
BANK T SLID SWIFTLY PA/1 & 2F WE KNEW X
  WE
7 D[N ^U ! DR9K+-PLACES US$ 0! HORDE4
,"! 7 ! WOM5 & *N1 ! WAT] C>RI]S1
A NUMB] ( !M1 FILL+ _! G\RDS4 ,AT SI<T (
  U
!Y /AMP$$ MADLY UP ! RUN-WAYS1 L1V+ 2H
!M A TRAIL ( G\RDS !Y _H DROPP$4








,WE L&$1 &( C\RSE WE NEGLECT$ 6TIE UP !
CATAM>AN1 : FLOAT$ (F D[N ! RIV]4 ,"R
CAUTI\SLY WE CREPT UP A RUN-WAY4 ,!
  ,FOLK _H ALL
4APPE>$ 96_! HOLES1 ?\< "H & "! WE
CD SEE A FACE PE]+ \ AT U4 ,"! 0 NO SIGN
( ,R$-,EYE4 ,WE 7 HOME AG4 ,& T NI<T WE
SLEPT 9 \R [N LL CAVE HI< UP ON ! CLIFF1
?\< F/ WE _H 6EVICT A C\PLE ( PUGNACI\S
"Y/]S :O _H TAK5 POSSES.N4