,,*APT] ,,XVII

,X 0 9 ! E>LY FALL (! FOLL[+ YE> T X
HAPP5$4 ,AF 8 FAILURE 6GET ! ,SWIFT ,"O1
,R$-,EYE _H TAK5 ANO!R WIFE2 &1 /RANGE
  6RELATE1
%E 0 / ALIVE4 ,/RANG] /1 !Y _H A BABY
S"EAL MON?S OLD--,R$-,EYE'S F/ *4 ,8
  PREVI\S
WIVES _H N"E LIV$ L;G 5 6BE> HM *N4
,! YE> _H G"O WELL = ALL ( U4 ,! W1!R _H
BE5 EXCEP;N,Y MILD & FOOD PL5TI;L4 ,I
  REMEMB]
ESPECI,Y ! TURNIPS ( T YE>4 ,! NUT CROP
  0
AL V H1VY1 &! WILD PLUMS 7 L>G] &
SWEET] ?AN USUAL4







,9 %ORT1 X 0 A GOLD5 YE>4 ,& !N X
  HAPP5$4
,X 0 9 ! E>LY MORN+1 & WE 7 SURPRIS$ 9
\R CAVES4 ,9 ! *ILL GRAY LI<T WE AWOKE F
SLEEP1 MO/ ( U1 65C.T] D1?4 ,! ,SWIFT
  ,"O
& ,I 7 >\S$ 0A P&EMONIUM ( SCREE*+ &
GI2]+4 ,\R CAVE 0 ! HI<E/ ( ALL ON !
CLIFF1 & WE CREPT 6! M\? & PE]$ D[N4 ,!
OP5 SPACE 0 FILL$ )! ,FIRE ,P4 ,_!
CRIES & YELLS 7 A4$ 6! CLAMOR1 B !Y _H
ORD] & PLAN1 :ILE WE ,FOLK _H N"O4 ,EA*
  "O ( U
F"\ & ACT$ = HMF1 & NO "O ( U KNEW !
EXT5T (! CALAM;Y T 0 2FALL+ U4










,0! "T WE GOT 6/"O-?R[+1 ! ,FIRE ,P
_H MASS$ ?ICK AT ! BASE (! CLIFF4 ,\R F/
VOLLEY M/ H MA%$ "S H1DS1 = :5 !Y
SW]V$ BACK F ! CLIFF ?REE ( _! NUMB] 7
LEFT ^U ! GR.D4 ,^! 7 /RU7L+ &
FL.D]+1 & "O 0 TRY+ 6CRAWL AWAY4 ,B WE
FIX$ !M4 ,0? "T WE MALES 7 RO>+ )
RAGE1 & WE RA9$ ROCKS ^U ! ?REE M5 T 7
D[N4 ,S"EAL (! ,FIRE-,M5 RETURN$ 6DRAG
  !M
96SAFETY1 B \R ROCKS DROVE ! RESCU]S
  BACK4













,! ,FIRE ,P 2CAME 5RAG$4 ,AL1 !Y 2CAME
CAUTI\S4 ,9 SPITE ( _! ANGRY YELLS1 !Y
  KEPT AT
A 4T.E & S5T FLI<TS ( >R[S AG/ U4 ,?
PUT AN 5D 6! ROCK-?R[+4 ,0! "T HALF A
DOZ5 ( U _H BE5 KILL$ &A SCORE 9JUR$1 !
RE/ ( U RETR1T$ 9SIDE \R CAVES4 ,I 0 N \
( RANGE 9 MY L(TY CAVE1 B ! 4T.E 0 GRT
5 6SPOIL E6ECTIVE %OOT+1 &! ,FIRE ,P
DID N WA/E _M >R[S ON ME4 ,FUR!RMORE1 ,I
  0
CURI\S4 ,I WANT$ 6SEE4 ,:ILE ! ,SWIFT
  ,"O
REMA9$ WELL 9SIDE ! CAVE1 TREMBL+ ) FE>
  &
MAK+ L[ WAIL+ S.DS 2C ,I WD N -E IN1
,I CR\*$ AT ! 5TR.E & WAT*$4








,! FI<T+ _H N[ 2COME 9T]MITT5T4 ,X 0 A
SORT ( D1DLOCK4 ,WE 7 9 ! CAVES1 &!
"Q )! ,FIRE ,P 0 H[ 6GET U \4
,!Y DID N D>E -E 9 AF U1 & 9 G5]AL WE
WD N EXPOSE \RVS 6_! >R[S4
,O3A.N,Y1 :5 "O ( !M DREW 9 CLOSE 6!
BASE (! CLIFF1 "O OR ANO!R (! ,FOLK WD
SMA% A ROCK D[N4 ,9 RETURN1 HE WD 2
  TRANSFIX$
0HALF A DOZ5 >R[S4 ,? RUSE "W$ WELL = "S
"T1 B F9,Y ! ,FOLK NO L;G] 7 9VEIGL$
96%[+ !MVS4 ,! D1DLOCK 0 -PLETE4













,2H ! ,FIRE ,P ,I CD SEE ! LL WIZ5$
OLD HUNT] DIRECT+ X ALL4 ,!Y OBEY$ HM1 &
  W5T
"H & "! AT 8 -M&S4 ,"S ( !M W5T 9TO
! =E/ & RETURN$ ) LOADS ( DRY WOOD1
  L1VES1
& GRASS4 ,ALL ! ,FIRE ,P DREW 9 CLOS]4
  ,:ILE
MO/ ( !M /OOD 0) B[S & >R[S1 R1DY TO
%OOT ANY (! ,FOLK T EXPOS$ !MVS1 S"EAL
(! ,FIRE-,M5 H1P$ ! DRY GRASS & WOOD AT
  !
M\?S (! L[] TI] ( CAVES4 ,\ ( ^! H1PS
!Y 3JUR$ ! MON/] WE FE>$--,,FIRE4 ,AT
  F/1
WISPS ( SMOKE >OSE & CURL$ UP ! CLIFF4
  ,!N ,I
CD SEE ! R$-T;GU$ FLAMES D>T+ 9 & \
"? ! WOOD L T9Y SNAKES4 ,! SMOKE GREW
?ICK] & ?ICK]1 AT "TS %R\D+ ! :OLE FACE
(! CLIFF4 ,B ,I 0 HI< UP & X DID N BO!R
ME M*1 ?\< X /UNG MY EYES & ,I RU2$ !M )
MY KNUCKLES4


,OLD ,M>R[-,B"O 0 ! F/ 6BE SMOK$ \4 ,A
LI<T FAN ( AIR DRIFT$ ! SMOKE AWAY AT !
  "T S
T ,I SAW CLE>LY4 ,HE BROKE \ "? ! SMOKE1
/EPP+ ON A BURN+ COAL & SCR1M+ )!
SU45 HURT ( X1 & ESSAY$ 6CLIMB UP !
  CLIFF4
,! >R[S %[]$ AB HM4 ,HE CAME 6A PAUSE ON
  A
L$GE1 CLUT*+ A KNOB ( ROCK = SUPPORT1
  GASP+
& SNEEZ+ & %AK+ 8 H1D4 ,HE SWAY$ BACK &
=?4 ,! F1!R$ 5DS (A DOZ5 >R[S 7
/ICK+ \ ( HM4 ,HE 0 AN OLD MAN1 & HE DID
  N
WANT 6DIE4 ,HE SWAY$ WID] & WID]1 8
  KNEES
GIV+ "U HM1 & Z HE SWAY$ HE WAIL$ MO/
PLA9TIVELY4 ,8 H& REL1S$ XS GRIP & HE
  LUR*$
\TW>D 6! FALL4 ,8 OLD B"OS M/ H BE5
SADLY BROK54 ,HE GROAN$ & /ROVE FEEBLY
  6RISE1
B A ,FIRE-,MAN RU%$ 9 ^U HM & BRA9$ HM )
A CLUB4
,& Z X HAPP5$ ) ,M>R[-,B"O1 S X HAPP5$
) _M (! ,FOLK4 ,UNA# 65DURE !
SMOKE-SU6OC,N1 !Y RU%$ \ 6FALL 2N !
>R[S4 ,"S (! WOM5 & *N REMA9$ 9 !
CAVES 6/RANGLE 6D1?1 B ! MAJOR;Y MET D1?
\TSIDE4

,:5 ! ,FIRE-,M5 _H 9 ? FA%ION CLE>$ ! F/
TI] ( CAVES1 !Y 2GAN MAK+ >RANGE;TS TO
DUPLICATE ! OP],N ON ! SECOND TI] (
  CAVES4
,X 0 :ILE !Y 7 CLIMB+ UP ) _! GRASS &
WOOD1 T ,R$-,EYE1 FOLL[$ 0HIS WIFE1 )!
  BABY
HOLD+ 6H] TI<TLY1 MADE A SU3ESS;L FLI<T
  UP !
CLIFF4 ,! ,FIRE-,M5 M/ H 3CLUD$ T 9 !
9T]VAL 2T ! SMOK+-\ OP],NS WE WD
REMA9 9 \R CAVES2 S T !Y 7 UNPREP>$1 &
_! >R[S DID N 2G9 6FLY TILL ,R$-,EYE & 8
WIFE 7 WELL UP ! WALL4 ,:5 HE R1*$ !
  TOP1
HE TURN$ AB & GL>$ D[N AT !M1 RO>+ &
B1T+ 8 *E/4 ,!Y >*$ _! >R[S AT HM1
& ?\< HE 0 UNT\*$ HE FL$ ON4
,I WAT*$ A ?IRD TI] SMOK$ \1 &A F\R?4 ,A
  FEW
(! ,FOLK ESCAP$ UP ! CLIFF1 B MO/ ( !M 7
%OT (F ! FACE ( X Z !Y /ROVE 6CLIMB4 ,I
REMEMB] ,L;G-,LIP4 ,HE GOT Z F> Z MY
  L$GE1 CRY+
PITE\SLY1 AN >R[ CLE> "? 8 *E/1 !
F1!R$ %AFT /ICK+ \ 2H1 ! B"O H1D
/ICK+ \ 2F1 %OT "? ! BACK Z HE
CLIMB$4 ,HE SANK D[N ON MY L$GE BLE$+
  PROFUSELY
AT ! M\?4

,X 0 AB ? "T T ! UPP] TI]S SEEM$ TO
EMPTY !MVS SPONTANE\SLY4 ,NE>LY ALL !
  ,FOLK
N YET SMOK$ \ /AMP$$ UP ! CLIFF AT !
  SAME
"T4 ,? 0 ! SAV+ ( _M4 ,! ,FIRE ,P
CD N %OOT >R[S FA/ 5\<4 ,!Y FILL$ !
AIR ) >R[S1 & SCORES (! /RICK5 ,FOLK
  CAME
TUMBL+ D[N2 B / "! 7 A FEW :O R1*$
! TOP & GOT AWAY4

,! IMPULSE ( FLI<T 0 N[ /R;G] 9 ME ?AN
CURIOS;Y4 ,! >R[S _H C1S$ FLY+4 ,! LA/ (
! ,FOLK SEEM$ G"O1 ?\< "! MAY H BE5 A
  FEW
/ HID+ 9 ! UPP] CAVES4 ,! ,SWIFT ,"O &
  ,I
/>T$ 6MAKE A SCRAM# =! CLIFF-TOP4 ,AT
  SI<T
( U A GRT CRY W5T UP F ! ,FIRE ,P4 ,?
0 N CAUS$ 0ME1 B 0! ,SWIFT ,"O4 ,!Y 7
*ATT]+ EXCIT$LY & PO9T+ H] \ 6"O
ANO!R4 ,!Y DID N TRY 6%OOT H]4 ,N AN >R[
0 4*>G$4 ,!Y 2GAN CALL+ S(TLY &
COAX+LY4 ,I /OPP$ & LOOK$ D[N4 ,%E 0
  AFRAID1
& :IMP]$ & URG$ ME ON4 ,S WE W5T UP OV]
  !
TOP & PLUNG$ 96! TREES4







,? EV5T HAS (T5 CAUS$ ME 6WOND] &
  SPECULATE4
,IF %E 7 RE,Y ( _! K9D1 %E M/ H BE5
LO/ F !M AT A "T :5 %E 0 TOO "Y TO
REMEMB]1 ELSE WD %E N H BE5 AFRAID ( !M4
,ON ! O!R H&1 X MAY WELL H BE5 T :ILE %E
0 _! K9D %E _H N"E BE5 LO/ F !M2 T
%E _H BE5 BORN 9 ! WILD =E/ F> F _!
HAUNTS1 H] "F MAYBE A R5EGADE ,FIRE-
  ,MAN1 H]
"M MAYBE "O ( MY [N K9D1 "O (! ,FOLK4 ,B
:O % SAY8 ,^! ?+S >E 2Y ME1 &!
,SWIFT ,"O KNEW NO M AB !M ?AN DID ,I4












,WE LIV$ "? A "D ( T]ROR4 ,MO/ (!
SURVIVORS FL$ T[>D ! BLUEB]RY SWAMP &
  TOOK
REFUGE 9 ! =E/ 9 T NEI<BORHOOD4 ,& ALL
  "D
HUNT+ "PIES (! ,FIRE ,P RANG$ ! =E/1
KILL+ U :]"E !Y F.D U4 ,X M/ H BE5 A
DELIB]ATELY EXECUT$ PLAN4 ,9CR1S+ 2Y !
LIMITS ( _! [N T]RITORY1 !Y _H DECID$ ON
MAK+ A 3QUE/ ( \RS4 ,SORRY ! 3QUE/6 ,WE
  _H
NO *.E AG/ !M4 ,X 0 SLAU<T]1
9DISCRIM9ATE SLAU<T]1 = !Y SP>$ N"O1
  KILL+
OLD & "Y1 E6ECTIVELY RI4+ ! L& ( \R
PRES;E4









,X 0 L ! 5D (! _W 6U4 ,WE FL$ 6!
TREES Z A LA/ REFUGE1 ONLY 6BE SURR.D$ &
KILL$1 FAMILY 0FAMILY4 ,WE SAW M* ( ?
  DUR+
T "D1 & 2SS1 ,I WANT$ 6SEE4 ,! ,SWIFT
  ,"O
& ,I N"E REMA9$ L;G 9 "O TREE1 & S
  ESCAP$
2+ SURR.D$4 ,B "! SEEM$ NO PLACE 6G4
,! ,FIRE-,M5 7 "EY":1 B5T ON _! TASK (
EXT]M9,N4 ,E WAY WE TURN$ WE 5C.T]$ !M1
& 2C ( ? WE SAW M* ( _! H&I"W4













,I DID N SEE :AT 2CAME ( MY "M1 B ,I DID
  SEE
! ,*ATT]] %OT D[N \ (! OLD HOME-TREE4 ,&
,I AM AFRAID T AT ! SI<T ,I DID A BIT (
  JOY\S
TEET]+4 ,2F ,I L1VE ? POR;N ( MY
N>RATIVE1 ,I M/ TELL ( ,R$-,EYE4 ,HE 0
  CAU<T )
8 WIFE 9 A TREE D[N 0! BLUEB]RY SWAMP4
  ,!
,SWIFT ,"O & ,I /OPP$ L;G 5 9 \R FLI<T
  TO
SEE4 ,! ,FIRE-,M5 7 TOO 9T5T ^U _! "W TO
NOTICE U1 &1 FUR!RMORE1 WE 7 WELL SCRE5$
  BY
! ?ICKET 9 : WE CR\*$4

,FULLY A SCORE (! HUNT]S 7 "U ! TREE1
4*>G+ >R[S 96X4 ,!Y ALW PICK$ UP
_! >R[S :5 !Y FELL BACK 6E>?4 ,I CD N
SEE ,R$-,EYE1 B ,I CD HE> HM H[L+ F
"S": 9 ! TREE4



,AF A %ORT 9T]VAL 8 H[L+ GREW MU6L$4 ,HE
M/ H CRAWL$ 96A HOLL[ 9 ! TRUNK4 ,B 8
WIFE DID N W9 ? %ELT]4 ,AN >R[ BR"\ H]
  TO
! GR.D4 ,%E 0 SEV]ELY HURT1 = %E MADE NO
EF=T 6GET AWAY4 ,%E CR\*$ 9 A %ELT]+ WAY
OV] H] BABY 7: CLUNG TI<TLY 6H]71 & MADE
PL1D+ SIGNS & S.DS 6! ,FIRE-,M54 ,!Y
GA!R$ AB H] & LAU<$ AT H]--EV5 Z ,LOP-
  ,E>
& ,I _H LAU<$ AT ! OLD ,TREE-,MAN4 ,&
  EV5 Z WE
_H POK$ HM ) TWIGS & /ICKS1 S DID !
,FIRE-,M5 ) ,R$-,EYE'S WIFE4 ,!Y POK$ H]
  )!
5DS ( _! B[S1 & PRO4$ H] 9 ! RIBS4 ,B
%E 0 POOR FUN4 ,%E WD N FI<T4 ,NOR1 = T
MATT]1 WD %E GET ANGRY4 ,%E 3T9U$ 6CR\*
OV] H] BABY & 6PL1D4 ,"O (! ,FIRE-,M5
/EPP$ CLOSE 6H]4 ,9 8 H& 0 A CLUB4 ,%E
  SAW
& "U/OOD1 B %E MADE ONLY ! PL1D+ S.DS
UNTIL ! BL[ FELL4


,R$-,EYE1 9 ! HOLL[ (! TRUNK1 0 SAFE F
_! >R[S4 ,!Y /OOD TGR & DEBAT$ =A
:ILE1 !N "O ( !M CLIMB$ 96! TREE4 ,:AT
HAPP5$ UP "! ,I CD N TELL1 B ,I HE>D HM
YELL & SAW ! EXCITE;T ( ^? T REMA9$
2N4 ,AF S"EAL M9UTES 8 BODY CRA%$ D[N
6! GR.D4 ,HE DID N MOVE4 ,!Y LOOK$ AT HM
& RAIS$ 8 H1D1 B X FELL BACK LIMPLY :5
  !Y
LET G4 ,R$-,EYE _H A3.T$ = HMF4

,!Y 7 V ANGRY4 ,"! 0 AN OP5+ 96!
TRUNK CLOSE 6! GR.D4 ,!Y GA!R$ WOOD &
GRASS & BUILT A FIRE4 ,! ,SWIFT ,"O &
  ,I1 \R >MS
>.D EA* O!R1 WAIT$ & WAT*$ 9 ! ?ICKET4
,"S"TS !Y ?REW ^U ! FIRE GRE5 BRAN*ES )
_M L1VES1 ":^U ! SMOKE 2CAME V ?ICK4

,WE SAW !M SU45LY SW]VE BACK F ! TREE4
  ,!Y
7 N QK 5\<4 ,R$-,EYE'S FLY+ BODY L&$ 9
! MID/ ( !M4


,HE 0 9 A F"R;L RAGE1 SMA%+ AB ) 8
L;G >MS "R & LEFT4 ,HE PULL$ ! FACE (F
  "O
( !M1 LIT],Y PULL$ X (F ) ^? GN>LY
F+]S ( 8 & ^? TREM5D\S MUSCLES4 ,HE BIT
ANO!R "? ! NECK4 ,! ,FIRE-,M5 FELL BACK
  )
WILD FI]CE YELLS1 !N RU%$ ^U HM4 ,HE
  MANAG$ TO
GET HOLD (A CLUB & 2GAN CRU%+ H1DS L
E7%ELLS4 ,HE 0 TOO M* = !M1 & !Y 7
-PELL$ 6FALL BACK AG4 ,? 0 8 *.E1 &
HE TURN$ 8 BACK ^U !M & RAN = X1 /
H[L+ WRA?;LLY4 ,A FEW >R[S SP$ AF HM1 B
HE PLUNG$ 96A ?ICKET & 0 G"O4










,! ,SWIFT ,"O & ,I CREPT QUIETLY AWAY1
  ONLY 6RUN
F\L ( ANO!R "PY ( ,FIRE-,M54 ,!Y *AS$ U
  9TO
! BLUEB]RY SWAMP1 B WE KNEW ! TREE-PA?S
  ACR
! F>!R MORASSES ": !Y CD N FOLL[ ON !
GR.D1 & S WE ESCAP$4 ,WE CAME \ ON ! O!R
SIDE 96A N>R[ /RIP ( =E/ T SEP>AT$ !
BLUEB]RY SWAMP F ! GRT SWAMP T EXT5D$
WE/W>D4 ,"H WE MET ,LOP-,E>4 ,H[ HE _H
  ESCAP$ ,I
_C IMAG9E1 UN.S HE _H N SLEPT ! PREC$+
NI<T AT ! CAVES4

,"H1 9 ! /RIP ( =E/1 WE MI<T H BUILT
TREE-%ELT]S & SETTL$ D[N2 B ! ,FIRE ,P
7 P]=M+ _! "W ( EXT]M9,N ?OR\<LY4
,9 ! AFN1 ,HAIR-,FACE & 8 WIFE FL$ \ F
AM;G ! TREES 6! EA/1 PASS$ U1 & 7 G"O4
,!Y FL$ SIL5TLY & SWIFTLY1 ) AL>M 9 _!
FACES4 ,9 ! DIREC;N F : !Y _H -E WE
HE>D ! CRIES & YELLS (! HUNT]S1 &!
SCREE*+ ( "S "O (! ,FOLK4 ,! ,FIRE ,P
_H F.D _! WAY ACR ! SWAMP4
,! ,SWIFT ,"O1 ,LOP-,E>1 & ,I FOLL[$ ON
  ! HEELS (
,HAIR-,FACE & 8 WIFE4 ,:5 WE CAME 6! $GE
  (
! GRT SWAMP1 WE /OPP$4 ,WE DID N "K XS
PA?S4 ,X 0 \TSIDE \R T]RITORY1 & X _H
  BE5
ALW AVOID$ 0! ,FOLK4 ,N"O _H "E G"O 9TO
X--AT L1/1 6RETURN4 ,9 \R M9DS X
  REPRES5T$
MY/]Y & FE>1 ! T]RI# UN"KN4 ,Z ,I SAY1
  WE
/OPP$ AT ! $GE ( X4 ,WE 7 AFRAID4 ,!
  CRIES
(! ,FIRE-,M5 7 DRAW+ NE>]4 ,WE LOOK$ AT
  "O
ANO!R4 ,HAIR-,FACE RAN \ ON ! QUAK+
  MORASS &
GA9$ ! FIRM] FOOT+ (A GRASS-HUMMOCK A
  DOZ5
Y>DS AWAY4 ,8 WIFE DID N FOLL[4 ,%E TRI$
  TO1 B
%RANK BACK F ! TR1*]\S SURFACE & C[]$
D[N4

,! ,SWIFT ,"O DID N WAIT = ME1 NOR DID
  %E PAUSE
TILL %E _H PASS$ 2Y ,HAIR-,FACE A HUNDR$
  Y>DS
& GA9$ A M* L>G] HUMMOCK4 ,0! "T ,LOP-
  ,E>

& ,I _H CAU<T UP ) H]1 ! ,FIRE-,M5
  APPE>$
AM;G ! TREES4 ,HAIR-,FACE'S WIFE1 DRIV5
  0!M 9TO
PANIC T]ROR1 DA%$ AF U4 ,B %E RAN BLLY1
)\T CAU;N1 & BROKE "? ! CRU/4 ,WE
TURN$ & WAT*$1 & SAW !M %OOT H] ) >R[S
Z %E SANK D[N 9 ! MUD4 ,! >R[S 2GAN
  FALL+
AB U4 ,HAIR-,FACE _H N[ JO9$ U1 &! F\R (
U PLUNG$ ON1 WE KNEW N :I!R1 DEEP] &
  DEEP]
96! SWAMP4