,,*APT] ,,VII

,BROK5-,TOO? 0 ANO!R "Y/] :O LIV$ BY
HMF4 ,8 "M LIV$ 9 ! CAVES1 B TWO M
*N _H -E AF HM & HE _H BE5 ?RU/ \
6%IFT = HMF4 ,WE _H WIT;S$ ! P]=M.E
DUR+ ! S"EAL PREC$+ "DS1 & X _H GIV5 U
NO LL GLEE4 ,BROK5-,TOO? DID N WANT 6G1
  &
E "T 8 "M LEFT ! CAVE HE SN1K$ BACK
96X4 ,:5 %E RETURN$ & F.D HM "! H]
RAGES 7 DELI<T;L4 ,HALF ! HORDE MADE A
  PRACTICE
( WAT*+ = ^! MO;TS4 ,F/1 F )9 !
CAVE1 WD -E H] SCOLD+ & %RIEK+4 ,!N WE
CD HE> S.DS (! ?RA%+ &! YELL+ (
,BROK5-,TOO?4 ,AB ? "T ! TWO "Y] *N
JO9$ IN4 ,& F9,Y1 L ! ERUP;N (A
M9IATURE VOLCANO1 ,BROK5-,TOO? WD -E
  FLY+ \4




,AT ! 5D ( S"EAL "DS 8 L1V+ HOME 0
A3OMPLI%$4 ,HE WAIL$ 8 GRIEF1 UNHE$$1 F
  !
C5TRE (! OP5 SPACE1 = AT L1/ HALF AN
  H\R1
& !N CAME 6LIVE ) ,LOP-,E> & ME4 ,\R
  CAVE 0
SMALL1 B ) SQUEEZ+ "! 0 ROOM = ?REE4 ,I
H NO RECOLLEC;N ( ,BROK5-,TOO? SP5D+ M
  ?AN
"O NI<T ) U1 S ! A3ID5T M/ H HAPP5$
"R AWAY4













,X CAME 9 ! MI4LE (! "D4 ,9 ! MORN+ WE
_H EAT5 \R FILL (! C>ROTS1 & !N1 MADE
HE$.S 0PLAY1 WE _H V5TUR$ ON 6! BIG
  TREES
J 2Y4 ,I _C "U/& H[ ,LOP-,E> GOT OV]
8 HABITUAL CAU;N1 B X M/ H BE5 ! PLAY4
,WE 7 HAV+ A GRT "T PLAY+ TREE TAG4 ,&
  S*
TAG6 ,WE L1P$ T5 OR FIFTE5-FOOT GAPS Z A
  MATT] (
C\RSE4 ,&A TW5TY OR TW5TY-FIVE FOOT
  DELIB]ATE
DROP CLE> D[N 6! GR.D 0 NO?+ 6U4 ,9
FACT1 ,I AM ALM AFRAID 6SAY ! GRT 4T.ES
  WE
DROPP$4 ,Z WE GREW OLD] & H1VI] WE F.D
  WE _H
6BE M CAUTI\S 9 DROPP+1 B AT T AGE \R
BODIES 7 ALL /R+S & SPR+S & WE CD D
ANY?+4





,BROK5-,TOO? 4PLAY$ REM>KA# AGIL;Y 9 !
  GAME4
,HE 0 8,X0 LESS FREQU5TLY ?AN ANY ( U1 &
  9 !
C\RSE (! GAME HE 4COV]$ "O DI6ICULT
  8SLIP0
T NEI ,LOP-,E> NOR ,I 0 A# 6A3OMPLI%4
  ,TO
2 TRU?;L1 WE 7 AFRAID 6ATTEMPT X4

,:5 WE 7 8,X10 ,BROK5-,TOO? ALW RAN \ 6!
5D (A L(TY BRAN* 9 A C]TA9 TREE4 ,F ! 5D
(! BRAN* 6! GR.D X M/ H BE5 SEV5TY
FEET1 & NO?+ 9T]V5$ 6BR1K A FALL4 ,B
AB TW5TY FEET L[] D[N1 & FULLY FIFTE5
  FEET
\ F ! P]P5DICUL>1 0 ! ?ICK BRAN* (
ANO!R TREE4







,Z WE RAN \ ! LIMB1 ,BROK5-,TOO?1 FAC+
  U1 WD
2G9 TEET]+4 ,? NATUR,Y IMP$$ \R
  PROGRESS2
B "! 0 M 9 ! TEET]+ ?AN T4 ,HE
TEET]$ ) 8 BACK 6! JUMP HE 0 6MAKE4
,J Z WE NE>LY R1*$ HM HE WD LET G4 ,!
TEET]+ BRAN* 0 L A SPR+-BO>D4 ,X ?REW HM
F> \1 BACKW>D1 Z HE FELL4 ,& Z HE FELL
  HE
TURN$ >.D SIDEWISE 9 ! AIR S Z 6FACE !
O!R BRAN* 96: HE 0 FALL+4 ,? BRAN*
B5T F> D[N "U ! IMPACT1 & "S"TS "! 0
AN OM9\S CRACKL+2 B X N"E BROKE1 & \ (
! L1VES 0 ALW 6BE SE5 ! FACE (
,BROK5-,TOO? GR9N+ TRIUMPHANTLY UP AT U4









,I 0 8,X0 ! LA/ "T ,BROK5-,TOO? TRI$ ?4
  ,HE
_H GA9$ ! 5D (! BRAN* & 2GUN 8
TEET]+1 & ,I 0 CREEP+ \ AF HM1 :5
SU45LY "! CAME A L[ W>N+ CRY F ,LOP-,E>4
  ,I
LOOK$ D[N & SAW HM 9 ! MA9 =K (! TREE
CR\*+ CLOSE AG/ ! TRUNK4 ,9/9CTIVELY ,I
CR\*$ D[N ^U ! ?ICK LIMB4 ,BROK5-,TOO?
/OPP$ TEET]+1 B ! BRAN* WD N /OP1 &
8 BODY 3T9U$ BO2+ UP & D[N )!
RU/L+ L1VES4













,I HE>D ! CRACKLE (A DRY TWIG1 & LOOK+
  D[N SAW
MY F/ ,FIRE-,MAN4 ,HE 0 CREEP+ /1L?ILY
  AL;G ON
! GR.D & PE]+ UP 96! TREE4 ,AT F/ ,I
?"\ HE 0 A WILD ANIMAL1 2C HE WORE >.D
8 WAI/ & OV] 8 %\LD]S A RA7$ PIECE (
BE>SK94 ,& !N ,I SAW 8 H&S & FEET1 & M
CLE>LY 8 F1TURES4 ,HE 0 V M* L MY K9D1
EXCEPT T HE 0 LESS HAIRY & T 8 FEET 7
LESS L H&S ?AN \RS4 ,9 FACT1 HE & 8 P1
Z ,I 0 LAT] 6"K1 7 F> LESS HAIRY ?AN WE1
?\< WE1 9 TURN1 7 EQU,Y LESS HAIRY ?AN !
,TREE ,P4

,X CAME 6ME 9/ANTLY1 Z ,I LOOK$ AT HM4
  ,? 0
! T]ROR (! NOR?EA/1 ( : ! MY/]Y (
SMOKE 0 A TOK54 ,YET ,I 0 PUZZL$4
  ,C]TA9LY HE
0 NO?+2 ( : 6BE AFRAID4 ,R$-,EYE OR ANY
  (
\R /R;G M5 WD H BE5 M ?AN A MAT* =


HM4 ,HE 0 OLD1 TOO1 WIZ5$ ) AGE1 &! HAIR
ON 8 FACE 0 GRAY4 ,AL1 HE LIMP$ BADLY )
  "O
LEG4 ,"! 0 NO D\BT AT ALL T WE CD \-RUN
HM & \-CLIMB HM4 ,HE CD N"E CAT* U1 T
0 C]TA94

,B HE C>RI$ "S?+ 9 8 H& T ,I _H N"E
SE5 2F4 ,X 0 A B[ & >R[4 ,B AT T "T
A B[ & >R[ _H NO M1N+ = ME4 ,H[ 0 ,I TO
"K T D1? LURK$ 9 T B5T PIECE ( WOOD8 ,B
,LOP-,E> KNEW4 ,HE _H EVID5TLY SE5 !
  ,FIRE ,P
2F & KNEW "S?+ ( _! WAYS4 ,! ,FIRE-,MAN
PE]$ UP AT HM & CIRCL$ >.D ! TREE4 ,&
>.D ! MA9 TRUNK ABV ! =K ,LOP-,E> CIRCL$
TOO1 KEEP+ ALW ! TRUNK 2T HMF &!
,FIRE-,MAN4







,! LATT] ABRUPTLY REV]S$ 8 CIRCL+4 ,LOP-
  ,E>1
CAU<T UNAW>ES1 AL HA/ILY REV]S$1 B DID N
  W9
! PROTEC;N (! TRUNK UNTIL AF ! ,FIRE-
  ,MAN
_H TWANG$ ! B[4

,I SAW ! >R[ L1P UP1 MISS ,LOP-,E>1 GL.E
  AG/ A
LIMB1 & FALL BACK 6! GR.D4 ,I D.ED UP &
D[N ON MY L(TY P]* ) DELI<T4 ,X 0 A
  GAME6
,! ,FIRE-,MAN 0 ?R[+ ?+S AT ,LOP-,E> Z
  WE
"S"TS ?REW ?+S AT "O ANO!R4









,! GAME 3T9U$ A LL L;G]1 B ,LOP-,E> DID
  N
EXPOSE HMF A SECOND "T4 ,!N ! ,FIRE-,MAN
  GAVE
X UP4 ,I L1N$ F> \ OV] MY HORIZONTAL
  LIMB &
*ATT]$ D[N AT HM4 ,I WANT$ 6PLAY4 ,I
  WANT$ TO
H HM TRY 6HIT ME )! ?+4 ,HE SAW ME1 B
IGNOR$ ME1 TURN+ 8 ATT5;N 6,BROK5-,TOO?1
  :O
0 / TEET]+ SLI<TLY & 9VOLUNT>ILY ON !
5D (! BRAN*4

,! F/ >R[ L1P$ UPW>D4 ,BROK5-,TOO? YELL$
) F"R & PA94 ,X _H R1*$ XS M>K4 ,?
PUT A NEW -PLEXION ON ! MATT]4 ,I NO
  L;G] C>$
6PLAY1 B CR\*$ TREMBL+ CLOSE 6MY LIMB4
  ,A
SECOND >R[ &A ?IRD SO>$ UP1 MISS+
,BROK5-,TOO?1 RU/L+ ! L1VES Z !Y PASS$
"?1 >*+ 9 _! FLI<T & RETURN+ TO
E>?4

,! ,FIRE-,MAN /RET*$ 8 B[ AG4 ,HE %IFT$
  8
POSI;N1 WALK+ AWAY S"EAL /EPS1 !N %IFT$
  X A
SECOND "T4 ,! B[-/R+ TWANG$1 ! >R[ L1P$
UPW>D1 & ,BROK5-,TOO?1 UTT]+ A T]RI#
  SCR1M1
FELL (F ! BRAN*4 ,I SAW HM Z HE W5T D[N1
TURN+ OV] & OV]1 ALL >MS & LEGS X SEEM$1
  !
%AFT (! >R[ PROJECT+ F 8 *E/ &
APPE>+ & 4APPE>+ ) EA* REVOLU;N ( 8
BODY4

,%E] D[N1 SCR1M+1 SEV5TY FEET HE FELL1
  SMA%+
6! E>? ) AN AUDI# ?UD & CRUN*1 8 BODY
REB.D+ SLI<TLY & SETTL+ D[N AG4 ,/ HE
LIV$1 = HE MOV$ & SQUIRM$1 CLAW+ ) 8
H&S & FEET4 ,I REMEMB] ! ,FIRE-,MAN
  RUNN+
=W>D )A /"O & HAMM]+ HM ON !
H1D'''& !N ,I REMEMB] NO M4


,ALW1 DUR+ MY *ILDHOOD1 AT ? /AGE (!
DR1M1 DID ,I WAKE UP SCR1M+ ) F"R--6F9D1
(T51 MY "M OR NURSE1 ANXI\S & />TL$1 0MY
B$SIDE1 PASS+ SOO?+ H&S "? MY HAIR &
TELL+ ME T !Y 7 "! & T "! 0
NO?+ 6FE>4

,MY NEXT DR1M1 9 ! ORD] ( SU3ES.N1 2G9S
ALW )! FLI<T ( ,LOP-,E> & MYF "?
! =E/4 ,! ,FIRE-,MAN & ,BROK5-,TOO? &!
  TREE
(! TRAG$Y >E G"O4 ,LOP-,E> & ,I1 9 A
  CAUTI\S
PANIC1 >E FLEE+ "? ! TREES4 ,9 MY "R LEG
IS A BURN+ PA92 & F ! FLE%1 PROTRUD+ H1D
& %AFT F EI SIDE1 IS AN >R[ (!
,FIRE-,MAN4 ,N ONLY DID ! PULL & /RA9 (
  X PA9
ME SEV]ELY1 B X BO!R$ MY MOVE;TS & MADE
  X
IMPOSSI# = ME 6KEEP UP ) ,LOP-,E>4




,AT LA/ ,I GAVE UP1 CR\*+ 9 ! SECURE =K
  (A
TREE4 ,LOP-,E> W5T "R ON4 ,I CALL$ 6HM--
  MO/
PLA9TIVELY1 ,I REMEMB]2 & HE /OPP$ &
  LOOK$
BACK4 ,!N HE RETURN$ 6ME1 CLIMB+ 96! =K
& EXAM9+ ! >R[4 ,HE TRI$ 6PULL X \1 B
"O WAY ! FLE% RESI/$ ! B>B$ L1D1 &!
O!R WAY X RESI/$ ! F1!R$ %AFT4 ,AL1 X
HURT GRIEV\SLY1 & ,I /OPP$ HM4

,= "S "T WE CR\*$ "!1 ,LOP-,E> N]V\S &
ANXI\S 6BE G"O1 P]PETU,Y & APPREH5SIVELY
PE]+ ? WAY & T1 & MYF :IMP]+ S(TLY
& SO2+4 ,LOP-,E> 0 PLA9LY 9 A FUNK1 &
  YET
8 3DUCT 9 REMA9+ 0ME1 9 SPITE ( 8 FE>1
  ,I
TAKE Z A =E%AD[+ (! ALTRUISM & -RADE%IP
T H HELP$ MAKE MAN ! MI<TIE/ (! ANIMALS4

,ONCE AG ,LOP-,E> TRI$ 6DRAG ! >R[ "? !


FLE%1 & ,I ANGRILY /OPP$ HM4 ,!N HE B5T
  D[N
& 2GAN GNAW+ ! %AFT (! >R[ ) 8
TEE?4 ,Z HE DID S HE HELD ! >R[ FIRMLY 9
  BO?
H&S S T X WD N PLAY AB 9 ! W.D1 &
AT ! SAME "T ,I HELD ON 6HM4 ,I (T5
  M$ITATE
^U ? SC5E--! TWO ( U1 HALF-GR[N CUBS1 9
  !
*ILDHOOD (! RACE1 &! "O MA/]+ 8 FE>1
B1T+ D[N 8 SELFI% IMPULSE ( FLI<T1 9
  ORD] TO
/& 0& SU3OR ! O!R4 ,& "! RISES UP
2F ME ALL T 0 "! =E%AD[$1 & ,I SEE
VI.NS ( ,DAMON & ,PY?IAS1 ( LIFE-SAV+
  CREWS &
,R$ ,CROSS NURSES1 ( M>TYRS & L1D]S (
  =LORN
HOPES1 ( ,"F ,DAMI51 &(! ,*RI/ HMF1 &
( ALL ! M5 ( E>?1 MI<TY ( /ATURE1 ^:
/R5G? MAY TRACE BACK 6! ELE;TAL LO9S (
,LOP-,E> & ,BIG-,TOO? & O!R DIM D5IZ5S
  (!
,"Y] ,_W4
,:5 ,LOP-,E> _H *EW$ (F ! H1D (! >R[1 !
%AFT 0 )DRAWN EASILY 5\<4 ,I />T$ 6G ON1
B ? "T X 0 HE T /OPP$ ME4 ,MY LEG 0
BLE$+ PROFUSELY4 ,"S (! SMALL] VE9S _H
D\BT.S BE5 RUPTUR$4 ,RUNN+ \ 6! 5D (A
BRAN*1 ,LOP-,E> GA!R$ A H&;L ( GRE5
  L1VES4
,^! HE /U6$ 96! W.D4 ,!Y A3OMPLI%$ !
PURPOSE1 =! BLE$+ SOON /OPP$4 ,!N WE W5T
ON TGR1 BACK 6! SAFETY (! CAVES4