,,*APT] ,,IV

,"! IS "O PUZZL+ ?+ AB ^! PREHI/ORIC
MEMORIES ( M9E4 ,X IS ! VAGUE;S (! "T
ELE;T4 ,I LO N ALW "K ! ORD] ( EV5TS2--
  OR
C ,I TELL1 2T "S EV5TS1 :E!R "O1 TWO1 OR
F\R OR FIVE YE>S H ELAPS$4 ,I C ONLY
  R\<LY
TELL ! PASSAGE ( "T 0JUDG+ ! *ANGES 9 !
APPE>.E & PURSUITS ( MY FELL[S4

,AL1 ,I C APPLY ! LOGIC ( EV5TS 6! V>I\S
HAPP5+S4 ,= 9/.E1 "! IS NO D\BT :AT"E
T MY "M & ,I 7 TRE$ 0! WILD PIGS &
FL$ & FELL 9 ! "DS 2F ,I MADE !
ACQUA9T.E ( ,LOP-,E>1 :O 2CAME :AT ,I
  MAY CALL MY
BOYHOOD *UM4 ,& X IS J Z 3CLUSIVE T
2T ^! TWO P]IODS ,I M/ H LEFT MY "M4




,I H NO MEMORY ( MY "F ?AN ! "O ,I H
GIV54 ,N"E1 9 ! YE>S T FOLL[$1 DID HE
REAPPE>4 ,& F MY K (! "TS1 ! ONLY
EXPLAN,N POSSI# LIES 9 T HE P]I%$ %ORTLY
AF ! ADV5TURE )! WILD PIGS4 ,T X M/
H BE5 AN UN"TLY 5D1 "! IS NO 4CUS.N4 ,HE
0 9 FULL VIGOR1 & ONLY SU45 & VIOL5T D1?
CD H TAK5 HM (F4 ,B ,I "K N ! MANN] (
8 GO+--:E!R HE 0 DR[N$ 9 ! RIV]1 OR 0
SWALL[$ 0A SNAKE1 OR W5T 96! /OMA* ( OLD
,SAB]-,TOO?1 ! TIG]1 IS 2Y MY K4

,= "K T ,I REMEMB] ONLY ! ?+S ,I SAW
  MYF1
) MY [N EYES1 9 ^? PREHI/ORIC "DS4 ,IF
  MY
"M KNEW MY "F'S 5D1 %E N"E TOLD ME4 ,=
T MATT] ,I D\BT IF %E _H A VOCABUL>Y
  ADEQUATE TO
3VEY S* 9=M,N4 ,P]H1 ALL TOLD1 ! ,FOLK
9 T "D _H A VOCABUL>Y ( ?IRTY OR =TY
  S.DS4



,I CALL !M ,,S.DS1 R ?AN ,,^WS1 2C S.DS
!Y 7 PRIM>ILY4 ,!Y _H NO FIX$ VALUES1
  6BE
ALT]$ 0ADJECTIVES & ADV]BS4 ,^! LATT] 7
TOOLS ( SPEE* N YET 9V5T$4 ,9/1D (
  QUALIFY+
N\NS OR V]BS 0! USE ( ADJECTIVES &
  ADV]BS1 WE
QUALIFI$ S.DS 09TON,N1 0*ANGES 9 QUANT;Y
& PIT*1 0RET>D+ & 0A3EL]AT+4 ,!
L5G? ( "T EMPLOY$ 9 ! UTT].E (A
"PICUL> S.D %AD$ XS M1N+4













,WE _H NO 3JUG,N4 ,"O JUDG$ ! T5SE 0!
3TEXT4 ,WE TALK$ ONLY 3CRETE ?+S 2C WE
?"\ ONLY 3CRETE ?+S4 ,AL1 WE DEP5D$
L>GELY ON PANTOMIME4 ,! SIMPLE/ AB/RAC;N
  0
PRACTIC,Y 2Y \R ?9K+2 & :5 "O DID
HAPP5 6?9K "O1 HE 0 H>D PUT 6-MUNICATE X
6HIS FELL[S4 ,"! 7 NO S.DS = X4 ,HE 0
PRESS+ 2Y ! LIMITS ( 8 VOCABUL>Y4 ,IF HE
9V5T$ S.DS = X1 8 FELL[S DID N "U/&
! S.DS4 ,!N X 0 T HE FELL BACK ON
PANTOMIME1 ILLU/RAT+ ! ?"\ :]"E POSSI#
& AT ! SAME "T REP1T+ ! NEW S.D OV] &
OV] AG4











,?US LANGUAGE GREW4 ,0! FEW S.DS WE
  POSSESS$ WE
7 5A#D 6?9K A %ORT 4T.E 2Y ^?
S.DS2 !N CAME ! NE$ = NEW S.DS ":) TO
EXPRESS ! NEW ?"\4 ,"S"TS1 H["E1 WE ?"\
TOO L;G A 4T.E 9 ADV.E ( \R S.DS1 MANAG$
6A*IEVE AB/RAC;NS 7DIM "OS ,I GRANT71 :
  WE
FAIL$ UTT]LY 6MAKE "KN 6O!R FOLK4 ,AF
  ALL1
LANGUAGE DID N GR[ FA/ 9 T "D4














,OH1 2LIEVE ME1 WE 7 AMAZ+LY SIMPLE4 ,B
  WE DID
"K A LOT T IS N "KN TD4 ,WE CD TWIT*
\R E>S1 PRICK !M UP & FLATT5 !M D[N AT
  W4
,& WE CD SCRAT* 2T \R %\LD]S ) EASE4
,WE CD ?R[ /"OS ) \R FEET4 ,I H D"O X
_M A "T4 ,&= T MATT]1 ,I CD KEEP MY
KNEES /RAI<T1 B5D =W>D F ! HIPS1 & T\*1
N ! TIPS ( MY F+]S1 B ! PO9TS ( MY
ELB[S1 6! GR.D4 ,& Z = BIRD-NE/+--WELL1
,I ONLY WI% ! TW5TIE?-C5TURY BOY CD SEE
  U4
,B WE MADE NO COLLEC;NS ( E7S4 ,WE ATE
  !M4










,I REMEMB]--B ,I \-RUN MY /ORY4 ,F/ LET
  ME TELL
( ,LOP-,E> & \R FR%IP4 ,V E>LY 9 MY
  LIFE1
,I SEP>AT$ F MY "M4 ,POSSIBLY ? 0 2C1
AF ! D1? ( MY "F1 %E TOOK 6H]F A
SECOND HUSB&4 ,I H FEW RECOLLEC;NS ( HM1
  &
!Y >E N (! BE/4 ,HE 0 A LI<T FELL[4
,"! 0 NO SOLID;Y 6HM4 ,HE 0 TOO VOLU#4
  ,8
9F]NAL *ATT]+ WORRIES ME EV5 N[ Z ,I ?9K
  (
X4 ,8 M9D 0 TOO 9CONSEQU5TIAL 6P]MIT HM
  TO
POSSESS PURPOSE4 ,MONKEYS 9 _! CAGES ALW
  REM9D
ME ( HM4 ,HE 0 MONKEYI%4 ,T IS ! BE/
DESCRIP;N ,I C GIVE ( HM4






,HE HAT$ ME F ! F/4 ,& ,I QKLY LE>N$ TO
2 AFRAID ( HM & 8 MALICI\S PRANKS4 ,:5"E
  HE
CAME 9 SI<T ,I CREPT CLOSE 6MY "M &
  CLUNG TO
H]4 ,B ,I 0 GR[+ OLD] ALL ! "T1 & X 0

9EVITA# T ,I %D F "T 6"T /RAY F
H]1 & /RAY F>!R & F>!R4 ,& ^! 7 !
OPPORTUNITIES T ! ,*ATT]] WAIT$ =4 7,I
  MAY Z
WELL EXPLA9 T WE BORE NO "NS 9 ^? "DS2 7
N "KN 0ANY "N4 ,=! SAKE ( 3V5I;E ,I
H MYF GIV5 "NS 6! V>I\S ,FOLK ,I 0 M
CLOSELY 9 3TACT )1 &! 8,*ATT]]0 IS !
MO/ FITT+ DESCRIP;N ,I C F9D = T PRECI\S
/EP"F ( M9E4 ,Z = ME1 ,I H "ND MYF
8,BIG-,TOO?40 ,MY EYE-TEE? 7 PRON\NC$LY
  L>GE47






,B 6RETURN 6! ,*ATT]]4 ,HE P]SI/5TLY
T]RORIZ$ ME4 ,HE 0 ALW P9*+ ME & CU6+
ME1 & ON O3A.N HE 0 N ABV BIT+ ME4 ,(T5
MY "M 9T]F]$1 &! WAY %E MADE 8 FUR FLY
0 A JOY 6SEE4 ,B ! RESULT ( ALL ? 0 A
B1UTI;L & UN5D+ FAMILY QU>REL1 9 : ,I 0
! B"O ( 3T5;N4

,NO1 MY HOME-LIFE 0 N HAPPY4 ,I SMILE
  6MYF Z ,I
WRITE ! PHRASE4 ,HOME-LIFE6 ,HOME6 ,I _H
  NO HOME 9
! MOD]N S5SE (! T]M4 ,MY HOME 0 AN
ASSOCI,N1 N A HABIT,N4 ,I LIV$ 9 MY "M'S
C>E1 N 9 A H\SE4 ,& MY "M LIV$ ANY":1 S
L;G Z :5 NI<T CAME %E 0 ABV ! GR.D4









,MY "M 0 OLD-FA%ION$4 ,%E / CLUNG 6H]
TREES4 ,X IS TRUE1 ! M PROGRESSIVE
  MEMB]S ( \R
HORDE LIV$ 9 ! CAVES ABV ! RIV]4 ,B MY
"M 0 SUSPICI\S & UNPROGRESSIVE4 ,! TREES
  7
GD 5 = H]4 ,( C\RSE1 WE _H "O "PICUL>
TREE 9 : WE USU,Y ROO/$1 ?\< WE (T5
ROO/$ 9 O!R TREES :5 NI<TFALL CAU<T U4
  ,9 A
3V5I5T =K 0 A SORT ( RUDE PLAT=M ( TWIGS
& BRAN*ES & CREEP+ ?+S4 ,X 0 M L A
HUGE BIRD-NE/ ?AN ANY?+ ELSE1 ?\< X 0 A
?\S& "TS CRUD] 9 ! W1V+ ?AN ANY
BIRD-NE/4 ,B X _H "O F1TURE T ,I H N"E
SE5 ATTA*$ 6ANY BIRD-NE/1 "NLY1 A RO(4









,OH1 N A RO( S* Z MOD]N MAN MAKES6 ,NOR
  A RO(
S* Z IS MADE 0! L[E/ ABORIG9ES ( TD4 ,X
0 9F9ITELY M CLUMSY ?AN ! CLUMSIE/ H&I"W
( MAN--( MAN Z WE "K HM4 ,X 0 PUT TGR 9
  A
CASUAL1 HELT]-SKELT] SORT ( WAY4 ,ABV !
  =K (
! TREE ":ON WE RE/$ 0 A PILE ( D1D
  BRAN*ES
& BRU%4 ,F\R OR FIVE ADJAC5T =KS HELD
  :AT ,I MAY
T]M ! V>I\S RIDGE-POLES4 ,^! 7 M]ELY /\T
/ICKS AN 9* OR S 9 DIAMET]4 ,ON !M RE/$
  !
BRU% & BRAN*ES4 ,^! SEEM$ 6H BE5 TOSS$
  ON
ALM AIM.SLY4 ,"! 0 NO ATTEMPT AT ?AT*+4
,& ,I M/ 3FESS T ! RO( L1K$ MIS]ABLY 9 A
H1VY RA94





,B ! ,*ATT]]4 ,HE MADE HOME-LIFE A BURD5
  = BO?
MY "M & ME--& 0HOME-LIFE ,I M1N1 N !
L1KY NE/ 9 ! TREE1 B ! GR\P-LIFE (! ?REE
( U4 ,HE 0 MO/ MALICI\S 9 8 P]SECU;N (
  ME4
,T 0 ! "O PURPOSE 6: HE HELD /1DFA/LY
= L;G] ?AN FIVE M9UTES4 ,AL1 Z "T W5T
  BY1
MY "M 0 LESS EAG] 9 H] DEF;E ( ME4 ,I
?9K1 :AT (! 3T9U\S R[S RAIS$ 0!
,*ATT]]1 T ,I M/ H 2COME A NUIS.E 6H]4
,AT ANY RATE1 ! SITU,N W5T F BAD 6WORSE
  S
RAPIDLY T ,I %D SOON1 ( MY [N VOLI;N1 H
LEFT HOME4 ,B ! SATISFAC;N ( P]=M+ S
9DEP5D5T AN ACT 0 D5I$ ME4 ,2F ,I 0 R1DY
6G1 ,I 0 ?R[N \4 ,& ,I M1N ? LIT],Y4







,! OPPORTUN;Y CAME 6! ,*ATT]] "O "D :5
  ,I
0 AL"O 9 ! NE/4 ,MY "M &! ,*ATT]] _H
G"O AWAY TGR T[>D ! BLUEB]RY SWAMP4 ,HE
  M/
H PLANN$ ! :OLE ?+1 = ,I HE>D HM RETURN+
AL"O "? ! =E/1 RO>+ ) SELF-9DUC$
RAGE Z HE CAME4 ,L ALL ! M5 ( \R HORDE1
  :5
!Y 7 ANGRY OR 7 TRY+ 6MAKE !MVS
ANGRY1 HE /OPP$ N[ & AG 6HAMM] ON 8 *E/
) 8 FI/4

,I R1LIZ$ ! HELP.S;S ( MY SITU,N1 &
CR\*$ TREMBL+ 9 ! NE/4 ,! ,*ATT]] CAME
DIRECTLY 6! TREE--,I REMEMB] X 0 AN OAK
TREE--& 2GAN 6CLIMB UP4 ,& HE N"E C1S$
  =A
MO;T F 8 9F]NAL R[4 ,Z ,I H SD1 \R
LANGUAGE 0 EXTREMELY M1GRE1 & HE M/ H
/RA9$ X 0! V>IETY ( WAYS 9 : HE 9=M$
ME ( 8 UNDY+ HATR$ ( ME &( 8 9T5;N
"! & !N 6H X \ ) ME4


,Z HE CLIMB$ 6! =K1 ,I FL$ \ ! GRT
HORIZONTAL LIMB4 ,HE FOLL[$ ME1 & \ ,I
  W5T1
F>!R & F>!R4 ,AT LA/ ,I 0 \ AM;G/ !
SMALL TWIGS & L1VES4 ,! ,*ATT]] 0 "E A
C[>D1 & GRT] ALW ?AN ANY ANG] HE "E
"W$ UP 0 8 CAU;N4 ,HE 0 AFRAID 6FOLL[ ME
\ AM;G/ ! L1VES & TWIGS4 ,= T MATT]1 8
GRT] WEI<T WD H CRA%$ HM "? !
FOLIAGE 2F HE CD H GOT 6ME4

,B X 0 N NEC = HM 6R1* ME1 & WELL

HE KNEW X1 ! SC.DREL6 ,)A MALEVOL5T
  EXPRES.N
ON 8 FACE1 8 B1DY EYES GL1M+ ) CRUEL
9TELLIG;E1 HE 2GAN TEET]+4 ,TEET]+6--&)
ME \ ON ! V $GE (! B\<1 CLUT*+ AT !
TWIGS T BROKE 3T9U,Y ) MY WEI<T4 ,TW5TY
FEET 2N ME 0 ! E>?4





,WILDLY & M--WILDLY HE TEET]$1 GR9N+ AT
  ME 8
GLOAT+ HATR$4 ,!N CAME ! 5D4 ,ALL F\R
  HOLDS
BROKE AT ! SAME "T1 & ,I FELL1 BACK-
  D[NW>D1
LOOK+ UP AT HM1 MY H&S & FEET / CLUT*+
! BROK5 TWIGS4 ,LUCKILY1 "! 7 NO WILD
  PIGS
"U ME1 & MY FALL 0 BROK5 0! T\< &
SPR+Y BU%ES4

,USU,Y1 MY FALLS DE/ROY MY DR1MS1 !
  N]V\S %OCK
2+ SU6ICI5T 6BRIDGE ! ?\S& C5TURIES 9 AN
9/ANT & HURL ME WIDE AWAKE 96MY LL B$1
":1 P]*.E1 ,I LIE SW1T+ & TREMBL+ & HE>
! CUCKOO CLOCK CALL+ ! H\R 9 ! HALL4 ,B
? DR1M ( MY L1V+ HOME ,I H _H _M "TS1
& N"E YET H ,I BE5 AWAK5$ 0X4 ,ALW D ,I
CRA%1 %RIEK+1 D[N "? ! BRU% & FET* UP
)A BUMP ON ! GR.D4



,SCRAT*$ & BRUIS$ & :IMP]+1 ,I LAY ": ,I
  _H
FALL54 ,PE]+ UP "? ! BU%ES1 ,I CD SEE !
,*ATT]]4 ,HE _H SET UP A DEMONIACAL *ANT
  ( JOY &
0 KEEP+ "T 6X ) 8 TEET]+4 ,I QKLY
HU%$ MY :IMP]+4 ,I 0 NO L;G] 9 ! SAFETY
  (
! TREES1 & ,I KNEW ! DANG] ,I RAN ( BR++
  ^U
MYF ! HUNT+ ANIMALS 0TOO AUDI# AN
  EXPRES.N
( MY GRIEF4












,I REMEMB]1 Z MY SOBS DI$ D[N1 T ,I
  2CAME
9T]E/$ 9 WAT*+ ! /RANGE LI<T-E6ECTS
PRODUC$ 0"PI,Y OP5+ & CLOS+ MY TE>-WET
EYELIDS4 ,!N ,I 2GAN 69VE/IGATE1 & F.D T
  ,I
0 N S V BADLY DAMAG$ 0MY FALL4 ,I _H LO/
"S HAIR & HIDE1 "H & "!2 ! %>P &
JA7$ 5D (A BROK5 BRAN* _H ?RU/ FULLY AN
  9*
96MY =E>M2 & MY "R HIP1 : _H BORNE !
BRUNT ( MY 3TACT )! GR.D1 0 A*+
9TOL]ABLY4 ,B ^!1 AF ALL1 7 ONLY PETTY
HURTS4 ,NO B"OS 7 BROK51 & 9 ^? "DS !
FLE% ( MAN _H F9] H1L+ QUALITIES ?AN X
  HAS
TD4 ,YET X 0 A SEV]E FALL1 = ,I LIMP$ )
  MY
9JUR$ HIP = FULLY A WEEK AFW4






,NEXT1 Z ,I LAY 9 ! BU%ES1 "! CAME ^U ME
  A
FEEL+ ( DESOL,N1 A 3SCI\S;S T ,I 0
HOME.S4 ,I MADE UP MY M9D N"E 6RETURN
  6MY
"M &! ,*ATT]]4 ,I WD G F> AWAY "?
! T]RI# =E/1 & F9D "S TREE = MYF 9
: 6ROO/4 ,Z = FOOD1 ,I KNEW ": 6F9D X4
,=! LA/ YE> AT L1/ ,I _H N BE5 2HOLD5 TO
MY "M = FOOD4 ,ALL %E _H FURNI%$ ME 0
PROTEC;N & GUID.E4

,I CRAWL$ S(TLY \ "? ! BU%ES4 ,ONCE ,I
  LOOK$
BACK & SAW ! ,*ATT]] / *ANT+ &
TEET]+4 ,X 0 N A PL1SANT SI<T4 ,I KNEW
  PRETTY
WELL H[ 6BE CAUTI\S1 & ,I 0 EXCE$+LY
  C>E;L
ON ? MY F/ J\RNEY 9 ! _W4





,I GAVE NO ?"\ Z 6": ,I 0 GO+4 ,I _H B
"O PURPOSE1 & T 0 6G AWAY 2Y ! R1*
(! ,*ATT]]4 ,I CLIMB$ 96! TREES &
W&]$ ON AM;G/ !M = H\RS1 PASS+ F TREE
6TREE & N"E T\*+ ! GR.D4 ,B ,I DID N
G 9 ANY "PICUL> DIREC;N1 NOR DID ,I
  TRAVEL
/1DILY4 ,X 0 MY NATURE1 Z X 0 ! NATURE (
  ALL
MY FOLK1 6BE 9CONSEQU5TIAL4 ,2SS1 ,I 0 A
  M]E
*1 & ,I /OPP$ A GRT D1L 6PLAY 0! WAY4

,! EV5TS T 2FELL ME ON MY L1V+ HOME >E V
VAGUE 9 MY M9D4 ,MY DR1MS D N COV] !M4
  ,M*
HAS MY O!R-SELF =GOTT51 & "PICUL>LY AT ?
V P]IOD4 ,NOR H ,I BE5 A# 6FRAME UP !
V>I\S DR1MS S Z 6BRIDGE ! GAP 2T MY
L1V+ ! HOME-TREE & MY >RIVAL AT ! CAVES4





,I REMEMB] T S"EAL "TS ,I CAME 6OP5
  SPACES4
,^! ,I CROSS$ 9 GRT TREPID,N1 DESC5D+ 6!
GR.D & RUNN+ AT ! TOP ( MY SPE$4 ,I
  REMEMB]
T "! 7 "DS ( RA9 & "DS ( SUN%9E1 S
T ,I M/ H W&]$ AL"O = Q A "T4 ,I
ESPECI,Y DR1M ( MY MIS]Y 9 ! RA91 &( MY
SU6]+S F HUNG] & H[ ,I APP1S$ X4 ,"O V
/R;G IMPRES.N IS ( HUNT+ LL LIZ>DS ON !
ROCKY TOP ( AN OP5 KNOLL4 ,!Y RAN "U !
  ROCKS1
& MO/ ( !M ESCAP$2 B O3A.N,Y ,I TURN$
OV] A /"O & CAU<T "O4 ,I 0 F"R5$ AWAY
F ? KNOLL 0SNAKES4 ,!Y DID N PURSUE ME4
,!Y 7 M]ELY BASK+ ON FLAT ROCKS 9 ! SUN4
  ,B
S* 0 MY 9H]IT$ FE> ( !M T ,I FL$ Z FA/
Z IF !Y _H BE5 AF ME4

,!N ,I GNAW$ BITT] B>K F "Y TREES4 ,I
  REMEMB]
VAGUELY ! EAT+ ( _M GRE5 NUTS1 ) S(T
  %ELLS

& MILKY K]NELS4 ,& ,I REMEMB] MO/
  4T9CTLY
SU6]+ F A /OMA*-A*E4 ,X MAY H BE5 CAUS$
0! GRE5 NUTS1 & MAYBE 0! LIZ>DS4 ,I D N
"K4 ,B ,I D "K T ,I 0 =TUNATE 9 N 2+
DEV\R$ DUR+ ! S"EAL H\RS ,I 0 KNOTT$ UP
  ON
! GR.D )! COLIC4