,,*APT] ;,V

,MY VI.N (! SC5E CAME ABRUPTLY1 Z ,I
  EM]G$ F
! =E/4 ,I F.D MYF ON ! $GE (A L>GE
CLE> SPACE4 ,ON "O SIDE ( ? SPACE ROSE
  UP HI<
BLU6S4 ,ON ! O!R SIDE 0 ! RIV]4 ,! E>?
BANK RAN /EEPLY D[N 6! WAT]1 B "H & "!1
9 S"EAL PLACES1 ": AT "S "T SLIDES ( E>?
_H O3URR$1 "! 7 RUN-WAYS4 ,^! 7 !
DR9K+-PLACES (! ,FOLK T LIV$ 9 ! CAVES4

,& ? 0 ! MA9 ABID+-PLACE (! ,FOLK T ,I
_H *.ED ^U4 ,? WAS1 ,I MAY SAY1 0/RET*+
! ^W1 ! VILLAGE4 ,MY "M &! ,*ATT]] &
,I1 &A FEW O!R SIMPLE BODIES1 7 :AT MI<T
  2
T]M$ SUBURBAN RESID5TS4 ,WE 7 "P (!
  HORDE1
?\< WE LIV$ A 4T.E AWAY F X4 ,X 0 ONLY A
%ORT 4T.E1 ?\< X _H TAK5 ME1 :AT ( MY
W&]+1 ALL (A WEEK 6>RIVE4 ,_H ,I -E
DIRECTLY1 ,I CD H COV]$ ! TRIP 9 AN H\R4
,B 6RETURN4 ,F ! $GE (! =E/ ,I SAW !
CAVES 9 ! BLUFF1 ! OP5 SPACE1 &! RUN-
  WAYS TO
! DR9K+-PLACES4 ,& 9 ! OP5 SPACE ,I SAW
  _M
(! ,FOLK4 ,I _H BE5 /RAY+1 AL"O &A *1
=A WEEK4 ,DUR+ T "T ,I _H SE5 N "O ( MY
K9D4 ,I _H LIV$ 9 T]ROR & DESOL,N4 ,&
  N[1
AT ! SI<T ( MY K9D1 ,I 0 OV]COME )
  GLAD;S1
& ,I RAN WILDLY T[>D !M4

,!N X 0 T A /RANGE ?+ HAPP5$4 ,"S "O (
! ,FOLK SAW ME & UTT]$ A W>N+ CRY4 ,ON !
9/ANT1 CRY+ \ ) FE> & PANIC1 ! ,FOLK FL$
AWAY4 ,L1P+ & SCRAMBL+ OV] ! ROCKS1 !Y
PLUNG$ 96! M\?S (! CAVES &
4APPE>$'''ALL B "O1 A LL BABY1 T _H BE5
DROPP$ 9 ! EXCITE;T CLOSE 6! BASE (!
BLUFF4 ,HE 0 WAIL+ DOLE;LLY4 ,8 "M DA%$
\2 HE SPRANG 6MEET H] & HELD ON TI<TLY Z
  %E
SCRAM#D BACK 96! CAVE4

,I 0 ALL AL"O4 ,! POPUL\S OP5 SPACE _H
  (A
SU45 2COME DES]T$4 ,I SAT D[N =LORNLY &
:IMP]$4 ,I CD N "U/&4 ,:Y _H ! ,FOLK
RUN AWAY F ME8 ,9 LAT] "T1 :5 ,I CAME
  6"K
_! WAYS1 ,I 0 6LE>N4 ,:5 !Y SAW ME DA%+
\ (! =E/ AT TOP SPE$ !Y 3CLUD$ T ,I
0 2+ PURSU$ 0"S HUNT+ ANIMAL4 ,0MY
UNC]EMONI\S APPROA* ,I _H /AMP$$ !M4















,Z ,I SAT & WAT*$ ! CAVE-M\?S ,I 2CAME
  AW>E
T ! ,FOLK 7 WAT*+ ME4 ,SOON !Y 7
?RU/+ _! H1DS \4 ,A LL LAT] !Y 7
CALL+ BACK & =? 6"O ANO!R4 ,9 ! HURRY
& 3FU.N X _H HAPP5$ T ALL _H N GA9$
_! [N CAVES4 ,"S (! "Y "OS _H S"\
REFUGE 9 O!R CAVES4 ,! "MS DID N CALL =
!M 0"N1 2C T 0 AN 9V5;N WE _H N
YET MADE4 ,ALL 7 "N.S4 ,! "MS UTT]$
QU]UL\S1 ANXI\S CRIES1 : 7 RECOGNIZ$ 0!
"Y "OS4 ,?US1 _H MY "M BE5 "! CALL+ TO
ME1 ,I %D H RECOGNIZ$ H] VOICE AM;G/ !
VOICES (A ?\S& "MS1 & 9 ! SAME WAY WD
%E H RECOGNIZ$ M9E AM;G/ A ?\S&4










,? CALL+ BACK & =? 3T9U$ = "S "T1
B !Y 7 TOO CAUTI\S 6-E \ ( _! CAVES
& DESC5D 6! GR.D4 ,F9,Y "O DID -E4 ,HE
0 DE/9$ 6PLAY A L>GE "P 9 MY LIFE1 &=
T MATT] HE ALR PLAY$ A L>GE "P 9 ! LIVES
( ALL ! MEMB]S (! HORDE4 ,HE X 0 :OM ,I
% CALL ,R$-,EYE 9 ! PAGES ( ? HI/ORY--S
CALL$ 2C ( 8 9FLAM$ EYES1 ! LIDS 2+
ALW R$1 &1 0! PECULI> E6ECT !Y PRODUC$1
SEEM+ 6ADV]TISE ! T]RI# SAVAGERY ( HM4
  ,!
COLOR ( 8 S\L 0 R$4













,HE 0 A MON/] 9 ALL WAYS4 ,PHYSIC,Y HE 0
  A
GIANT4 ,HE M/ H WEI<$ "O HUNDR$ & SEV5TY
P.DS4 ,HE 0 ! L>GE/ "O ( \R K9D ,I "E
  SAW4
,NOR DID ,I "E SEE "O (! ,FIRE ,P S L>GE
  Z
HE1 NOR "O (! ,TREE ,P4 ,"S"TS1 :5 9 !
NEWSPAP]S ,I HAPP5 ^U DESCRIP;NS ( \R
  MOD]N
BRUIS]S & PRIZEFI<T]S1 ,I WOND] :AT *.E
  !
BE/ ( !M WD H _H AG/ HM4












,I AM AFRAID N M* (A *.E4 ,) "O GRIP ( 8
IRON F+]S &A PULL1 HE CD H PLUCK$ A
MUSCLE1 SAY A BICEPS1 0! ROOTS1 CLE> \ (
  _!
BODIES4 ,A BACK-H&$1 LOOSE BL[ ( 8 FI/
  CD
H SMA%$ _! SKULLS L EGG-%ELLS4 ,)A SWEEP
( 8 WICK$ FEET 7OR H9D-H&S7 HE CD H
4EMB[ELL$ !M4 ,A TWI/ CD H BROK5 _!
NECKS1 & ,I "K T )A S+LE CRUN* ( 8 JAWS
HE CD H PI]C$1 AT ! SAME MO;T1 ! GRT
VE9 (! ?ROAT 9 FRONT &! SP9AL M>R[ AT
! BACK4

,HE CD SPR+ TW5TY FEET HORIZONT,Y F A
  SITT+









POSI;N4 ,HE 0 ABOM9ABLY HAIRY4 ,X 0 A
  MATT] (
PRIDE ) U 6BE N V HAIRY4 ,B HE 0 COV]$
) HAIR ALL OV]1 ON ! 9SIDE (! >MS Z WELL
Z ! \TSIDE1 & EV5 ! E>S !MVS4 ,! ONLY
PLACES ON HM ": ! HAIR DID N GR[ 7 !
SOLES ( 8 H&S & FEET & 2N 8 EYES4 ,HE
0 F"R;LLY UGLY1 8 F]OCI\S GR9N+ M\? &
HUGE D[N-HANG+ "U-LIP 2+ B 9 H>MONY )
8 T]RI# EYES4















,? 0 ,R$-,EYE4 ,& "R G+]LY HE CREPT \ OR
8 CAVE & DESC5D$ 6! GR.D4 ,IGNOR+ ME1 HE
PROCE$$ 6RECONNOITRE4 ,HE B5T =W>D F !
HIPS Z HE WALK$2 & S F> =W>D DID HE B5D1
  &
S L;G 7 8 >MS1 T ) E /EP HE T\*$
! KNUCKLES ( 8 H&S 6! GR.D ON EI SIDE
( HM4 ,HE 0 AWKW>D 9 ! SEMI-ERECT POSI;N
  (
WALK+ T HE ASSUM$1 & HE RE,Y T\*$ 8
KNUCKLES 6! GR.D 9 ORD] 6BAL.E HMF4
,B OH1 ,I TELL Y HE CD RUN ON ALL-F\RS6
  ,N[ ?
0 "S?+ AT : WE 7 "PICUL>LY AWKW>D4
,FUR!RMORE1 X 0 A R>E 9DIVIDUAL AM;G U
  :O
BAL.ED HMF ) 8 KNUCKLES :5 WALK+4 ,S*
AN 9DIVIDUAL 0 AN ATAVISM1 & ,R$-,EYE 0
  AN EV5
GRT] ATAVISM4





,T IS :AT HE WAS--AN ATAVISM4 ,WE 7 9 !
PROCESS ( *ANG+ \R TREE-LIFE 6LIFE ON !
GR.D4 ,= _M G5],NS WE _H BE5 GO+ "?
? *ANGE1 & \R BODIES & C>RIAGE _H
  LIKEWISE
*ANG$4 ,B ,R$-,EYE _H REV]T$ 6! M
PRIMITIVE TREE-DWELL+ TYPE4 ,P]=CE1 2C
  HE 0
BORN 9 \R HORDE HE /AY$ ) U2 B 9
  ACTUAL;Y
HE 0 AN ATAVISM & 8 PLACE 0 ELSE":4

,V CIRCUMSPECT & V AL]T1 HE MOV$ "H &
"! AB ! OP5 SPACE1 PE]+ "? ! VI/AS
AM;G ! TREES & TRY+ 6CAT* A GLIMPSE (!
HUNT+ ANIMAL T ALL SUSPECT$ _H PURSU$
  ME4 ,&
:ILE HE DID ?1 TAK+ NO NOTICE ( ME1 !
  ,FOLK
CR[D$ AT ! CAVE-M\?S & WAT*$4





,AT LA/ HE EVID5TLY DECID$ T "! 0 NO
  DANG]
LURK+ AB4 ,HE 0 RETURN+ F ! H1D (!
RUN-WAY1 F ": HE _H TAK5 A PEEP D[N AT !
DR9K+-PLACE4 ,8 C\RSE BR"\ HM NE>1 B /
HE DID N NOTICE ME4 ,HE PROCE$$ CASU,Y
  ON 8 WAY
UNTIL ABR1/ ( ME1 & !N1 )\T W>N+ &)
9CR$I# SWIFT;S1 HE SMOTE ME A BU6ET ON !
  H1D4
,I 0 KNOCK$ BACKW>D FULLY A DOZ5 FEET 2F
  ,I
FET*$ UP AG/ ! GR.D1 & ,I REMEMB]1
HALF-/UNN$1 EV5 Z ! BL[ 0 /RUCK1 HE>+ !
WILD UPRO> ( CLUCK+ & %RIEK+ LAU<T] T
>OSE F ! CAVES4 ,X 0 A GRT JOKE--AT L1/
  9
T "D2 & "R HE>TILY ! ,FOLK APPRECIAT$ X4







,?US 0 ,I RCVD 96! HORDE4 ,R$-,EYE PD NO
FUR!R ATT5;N 6ME1 & ,I 0 AT LIB]TY TO
:IMP] & SOB 6MY HE>T'S 3T5T4 ,S"EAL (!
WOM5 GA!R$ CURI\SLY AB ME1 & ,I
  RECOGNIZ$
!M4 ,I _H 5C.T]$ !M ! PREC$+ YE> :5
MY "M _H TAK5 ME 6! HAZELNUT CANYONS4

,B !Y QKLY LEFT ME AL"O1 2+ REPLAC$ 0A
DOZ5 CURI\S & T1S+ "Y/]S4 ,!Y =M$ A
CIRCLE >.D ME1 PO9T+ _! F+]S1 MAK+
  FACES1
& POK+ & P9*+ ME4 ,I 0 F"R5$1 &=
A "T ,I 5DUR$ !M1 !N ANG] GOT ! BE/ ( ME
& ,I SPRANG TOO? & NAIL ^U ! MO/
  AUDACI\S "O
( !M--N"O O!R ?AN ,LOP-,E> HMF4 ,I H S
"ND HM 2C HE CD PRICK UP ONLY "O ( 8
E>S4 ,! O!R E> ALW HUNG LIMP & )\T
MOVE;T4 ,"S A3ID5T _H 9JUR$ ! MUSCLES &
DEPRIV$ HM (! USE ( X4




,HE CLOS$ ) ME1 & WE W5T AT X = ALL ! _W
L A C\PLE ( SMALL BOYS FI<T+4 ,WE
  SCRAT*$ &
BIT1 PULL$ HAIR1 CL9*$1 & ?REW EA* O!R
  D[N4
,I REMEMB] ,I SU3E$$ 9 GETT+ ON HM :AT 9
  MY
COLLEGE "DS ,I LE>N$ 0 CALL$ A HALF-
  ,NELSON4 ,?
HOLD GAVE ME ! DECID$ ADVANTAGE4 ,B ,I
  DID N
5JOY X L;G4 ,HE TWI/$ UP "O LEG1 &)!
FOOT 7OR H9D-H&7 MADE S SAVAGE AN
  ONSLAU<T ^U MY
ABDOM5 Z 6?R1T5 64EMB[EL ME4 ,I _H TO
REL1SE HM 9 ORD] 6SAVE MYF1 & !N WE W5T
AT X AG4








,LOP-,E> 0 A YE> OLD] ?AN ,I1 B ,I 0
  S"EAL
"TS ANGRI] ?AN HE1 & 9 ! 5D HE TOOK 6HIS
HEELS4 ,I *AS$ HM ACR ! OP5 & D[N A RUN-
  WAY
6! RIV]4 ,B HE 0 BETT] ACQUA9T$ )!
LOCAL;Y & RAN AL;G ! $GE (! WAT] & UP
ANO!R RUN-WAY4 ,HE CUT DIAGON,Y ACR !
  OP5
SPACE & DA%$ 96A WIDE-M\!D CAVE4

,2F ,I KNEW X1 ,I _H PLUNG$ AF HM 96!
D>K;S4 ,! NEXT MO;T ,I 0 BADLY F"R5$4 ,I
_H N"E BE5 9 A CAVE 2F4 ,I 2GAN 6:IMP]
& CRY \4 ,LOP-,E> *ATT]$ MOCK+LY AT ME1
  &1
SPR++ ^U ME UNSE51 TUM#D ME OV]4 ,HE DID
  N







RISK A SECOND 5C.T]1 H["E1 & TOOK HMF
  (F4
,I 0 2T HM &! 5TR.E1 & HE DID N PASS
ME2 YET HE SEEM$ 6H G"O AWAY4 ,I LI/5$1
  B
CD GET NO CLEW Z 6": HE WAS4 ,? PUZZL$
  ME1
& :5 ,I REGA9$ ! \TSIDE ,I SAT D[N
  6WAT*4

,HE N"E CAME \ (! 5TR.E1 ( T ,I 0
C]TA92 YET AT ! 5D ( S"EAL M9UTES HE
  *UCKL$
AT MY ELB[4 ,AG ,I RAN AF HM1 & AG HE
  RAN
96! CAVE2 B ? "T ,I /OPP$ AT ! M\?4 ,I
DROPP$ BACK A %ORT 4T.E & WAT*$4 ,HE DID
  N
-E \1 YET1 Z 2F1 HE *UCKL$ AT MY ELB[ &
0 *AS$ 0ME A ?IRD "T 96! CAVE4





,? P]=M.E 0 REP1T$ S"EAL "TS4 ,!N ,I
FOLL[$ HM 96! CAVE1 ": ,I SE>*$ VA9LY =
HM4 ,I 0 CURI\S4 ,I CD N "U/& H[ HE
ELUD$ ME4 ,ALW HE W5T 96! CAVE1 N"E DID
  HE
-E \ ( X1 YET ALW DID HE >RIVE "! AT MY
ELB[ & MOCK ME4 ,?US DID \R FI<T TRANS=M
  XF
96A GAME ( HIDE & SEEK4

,ALL AFN1 ) O3A.NAL 9T]VALS1 WE KEPT X
UP1 &A PLAY;L1 FRLY _S >OSE 2T U4
,9 ! 5D1 HE DID N RUN AWAY F ME1 & WE
  SAT
TGR ) \R >MS >.D EA* O!R4 ,A LL
LAT] HE 4CLOS$ ! MY/]Y (! WIDE-M\!D
CAVE4 ,HOLD+ ME 0! H& HE L$ ME 9SIDE4 ,X
3NECT$ 0A N>R[ CREVICE ) ANO!R CAVE1 & X
0 "? ? T WE REGA9$ ! OP5 AIR4






,WE 7 N[ GD FRS4 ,:5 ! O!R "Y "OS
GA!R$ >.D 6T1SE1 HE JO9$ ) ME 9
ATTACK+ !M2 & S VICI\SLY DID WE 2HAVE T
2F L;G ,I 0 LET AL"O4 ,LOP-,E> MADE ME
ACQUA9T$ )! VILLAGE4 ,"! 0 LL T HE
CD TELL ME ( 3DI;NS & CU/OMS--HE _H N !
NEC VOCABUL>Y2 B 0OBS]V+ 8 AC;NS ,I
LE>N$ M*1 & AL HE %[$ ME PLACES & ?+S4

,HE TOOK ME UP ! OP5 SPACE1 2T ! CAVES
  &!
RIV]1 & 96! =E/ 2Y1 ":1 9 A GRASSY
PLACE AM;G ! TREES1 WE MADE A M1L (
  /R+Y-ROOT$
C>ROTS4 ,AF T WE _H A GD DR9K AT ! RIV]
& />T$ UP ! RUN-WAY 6! CAVES4









,X 0 9 ! RUN-WAY T WE CAME ^U ,R$-,EYE
  AG4
,! F/ ,I KNEW1 ,LOP-,E> _H %RUNK AWAY
  6"O SIDE
& 0 CR\*+ L[ AG/ ! BANK4 ,NATUR,Y &
9VOLUNT>ILY1 ,I IMITAT$ HM4 ,!N X 0 T ,I
LOOK$ 6SEE ! CAUSE ( 8 FE>4 ,X 0 ,R$-
  ,EYE1
SWA7]+ D[N ! C5TRE (! RUN-WAY & SC[L+
FI]CELY ) 8 9FLAM$ EYES4 ,I NOTIC$ T ALL
! "Y/]S %RANK AWAY F HM Z WE _H D"O1
:ILE ! GR[N-UPS REG>D$ HM ) W>Y EYES :5
HE DREW NE>1 & /EPP$ ASIDE 6GIVE HM !
  C5TRE
(! PA?4










,Z TWILI<T CAME ON1 ! OP5 SPACE 0
  DES]T$4 ,!
,FOLK 7 SEEK+ ! SAFETY (! CAVES4 ,LOP-
  ,E> L$
! WAY 6B$4 ,HI< UP ! BLUFF WE CLIMB$1
  HI<]
?AN ALL ! O!R CAVES1 6A T9Y CREVICE T CD
N 2 SE5 F ! GR.D4 ,96? ,LOP-,E>
SQUEEZ$4 ,I FOLL[$ ) DI6ICULTY1 S N>R[ 0
! 5TR.E1 & F.D MYF 9 A SMALL ROCK-*AMB]4
,X 0 V L[--N M ?AN A C\PLE ( FEET 9
HEI<T1 & POSSIBLY ?REE FEET 0F\R 9 WID?
  &
L5G?4 ,"H1 CU4L$ TGR 9 EA* O!R'S >MS1
WE SLEPT \ ! NI<T4