,,*APT] ,,VIII

,WELL D ,I REMEMB] T F/ W9T] AF ,I LEFT
  HOME4
,I H L;G DR1MS ( SITT+ %IV]+ 9 ! COLD4
,LOP-,E> & ,I SIT CLOSE TGR1 ) \R >MS &
LEGS AB EA* O!R1 BLUE-FAC$ &) *ATT]+
TEE?4 ,X GOT "PICUL>LY CRISP AL;G T[>D
  MORN+4
,9 ^? *ILL E>LY H\RS WE SLEPT LL1 HU4L+
TGR 9 NUMB MIS]Y & WAIT+ =! SUNRISE 9
ORD] 6GET W>M4












,:5 WE W5T \TSIDE "! 0 A CRACKLE ( FRO/
  "U
FOOT4 ,"O MORN+ WE 4COV]$ ICE ON !
  SURFACE (
! QUIET WAT] 9 ! $DY ": 0 !
DR9K+-PLACE1 & "! 0 A GRT ,H[-D-Y-D
AB X4 ,OLD ,M>R[-,B"O 0 ! OLDE/ MEMB] (!
HORDE1 & HE _H N"E SE5 ANY?+ L X 2F4
,I REMEMB] ! WORRI$1 PLA9TIVE LOOK T
  CAME 9TO
8 EYES Z HE EXAM9$ ! ICE4 7,? PLA9TIVE
  LOOK
ALW CAME 96\R EYES :5 WE DID N "U/& A
?+1 OR :5 WE FELT ! PROD ( "S VAGUE &
9EXPRESSI# DESIRE47 ,R$-,EYE1 TOO1 :5 HE
9VE/IGAT$ ! ICE1 LOOK$ BL1K & PLA9TIVE1
  &
/>$ ACR ! RIV] 96! NOR?EA/1 Z ?\<
9 "S WAY HE 3NECT$ ! ,FIRE ,P ) ?
LATE/ HAPP5+4





,B WE F.D ICE ONLY ON T "O MORN+1 & T 0
! COLDE/ W9T] WE EXP]I;ED4 ,I H NO
  MEMORY (
O!R W9T]S :5 X 0 S COLD4 ,I H (T5
?"\ T T COLD W9T] 0 A =E-RUNN] (!
C.T.S COLD W9T]S 6-E1 Z ! ICE-%EET F
F>!R NOR? CREPT D[N OV] ! FACE (! L&4 ,B
WE N"E SAW T ICE-%EET4 ,_M G5],NS M/
H PASS$ AWAY 2F ! DESC5DANTS (! HORDE
MIGRAT$ S\?1 OR REMA9$ & ADAPT$ !MVS TO
! *ANG$ 3DI;NS4

,LIFE 0 HIT OR MISS & HAPPY-G-LUCKY ) U4
,LL 0 "E PLANN$1 & LESS 0 EXECUT$4 ,WE
  ATE
:5 WE 7 HUNGRY1 DRANK :5 WE 7 ?IR/Y1
AVOID$ \R C>NIVOR\S 5EMIES1 TOOK %ELT] 9
  !
CAVES AT NI<T1 &=! RE/ J SORT ( PLAY$
AL;G "? LIFE4





,WE 7 V CURI\S1 EASILY AMUS$1 & FULL (
  TRICKS
& PRANKS4 ,"! 0 NO S]I\S;S AB U1 EXCEPT
:5 WE 7 9 DANG] OR 7 ANGRY1 9 : CASES
! "O 0 QKLY =GOTT5 &! O!R Z QKLY
GOT OV]4

,WE 7 9CONSECUTIVE1 ILLOGICAL1 &
  9CONSEQU5TIAL4
,WE _H NO /1DFA/;S ( PURPOSE1 & X 0 "H
T ! ,FIRE ,P 7 AH1D ( U4 ,!Y POSSESS$
ALL ^! ?+S ( : WE POSSESS$ S LL4
,O3A.N,Y1 H["E1 ESPECI,Y 9 ! R1LM (!
EMO;NS1 WE 7 CAPA# ( L;G-*]I%$ PURPOSE4
,! FAI?;L;S (! MONOGAMIC C\PLES ,I H
REF]R$ 6MAY 2 EXPLA9$ Z A MATT] ( HABIT2
  B
MY L;G DESIRE =! ,SWIFT ,"O _C 2 S
EXPLA9$1 ANY M ?AN C 2 EXPLA9$ ! UNDY+
5M;Y 2T ME & ,R$-,EYE4





,B X 0 \R 9CONSEQU5TIAL;Y & /UPID;Y T
ESPECI,Y 4TRESSES ME :5 ,I LOOK BACK ^U
  T
LIFE 9 ! L;G AGO4 ,ONCE ,I F.D A BROK5
  G\RD :
HAPP5$ 6LIE "R SIDE UP & : _H BE5 FILL$
)! RA94 ,! WAT] 0 SWEET1 & ,I DRANK X4
  ,I
EV5 TOOK ! G\RD D[N 6! /R1M & FILL$ X
) M WAT]1 "S ( : ,I DRANK & "S (
: ,I P\R$ OV] ,LOP-,E>4 ,& !N ,I ?REW !
G\RD AWAY4 ,X N"E 5T]$ MY H1D 6FILL !
  G\RD
) WAT] & C>RY X 96MY CAVE4 ,YET (T5 ,I 0
?IR/Y AT NI<T1 ESPECI,Y AF EAT+ WILD
  ONIONS
& WAT]CRESS1 & NO "O "E D>$ L1VE ! CAVES
AT NI<T =A DR9K4







,ANO!R "T ,I F.D A DRY2 G\RD1 9SIDE ( :
  !
SE$S RATTL$4 ,I _H FUN ) X =A :ILE4 ,B X
0 A PLAY ?+1 NO?+ M4 ,& YET1 X 0 N
L;G AF ? T ! US+ ( G\RDS = /OR+
WAT] 2CAME ! G5]AL PRACTICE (! HORDE4 ,B
  ,I
0 N ! 9V5TOR4 ,! HONOR 0 DUE 6OLD
,M>R[-,B"O1 & X IS FAIR 6ASSUME T X 0 !
NECESS;Y ( 8 GRT AGE T BR"\ AB !
9NOV,N4














,AT ANY RATE1 ! F/ MEMB] (! HORDE 6USE
G\RDS 0 ,M>R[-,B"O4 ,HE KEPT A SUPPLY (
DR9K+-WAT] 9 8 CAVE1 : CAVE 2L;G$ 6HIS
SON1 ! ,HAIR.S ,"O1 :O P]MITT$ HM 6O3UPY
  A
CORN] ( X4 ,WE US$ 6SEE ,M>R[-,B"O FILL+
  8
G\RD AT ! DR9K+-PLACE & C>RY+ X C>E;LLY
UP 6HIS CAVE4 ,IMIT,N 0 /R;G 9 ! ,FOLK1
  &
F/ "O1 & !N ANO!R & ANO!R1 PROCUR$ A
G\RD & US$ X 9 SIMIL> FA%ION1 UNTIL X 0
  A
G5]AL PRACTICE ) ALL ( U S 6/ORE WAT]4

,"S"TS OLD ,M>R[-,B"O _H SICK SPELLS & 0









UNA# 6L1VE ! CAVE4 ,!N X 0 T !
,HAIR.S ,"O FILL$ ! G\RD = HM4 ,A LL
  LAT]1
! ,HAIR.S ,"O DEPUT$ ! TASK 6,L;G-,LIP1
  8
SON4 ,& AF T1 EV5 :5 ,M>R[-,B"O 0 WELL
AG1 ,L;G-,LIP 3T9U$ C>RY+ WAT] = HM4 ,BY
& BY1 EXCEPT ON UNUSUAL O3A.NS1 ! M5 N"E
C>RI$ ANY WAT] AT ALL1 L1V+ ! TASK 6!
  WOM5
& L>G] *N4 ,LOP-,E> & ,I 7 9DEP5D5T4
,WE C>RI$ WAT] ONLY = \RVS1 & WE (T5
MOCK$ ! "Y WAT]-C>RI]S :5 !Y 7 CALL$
AWAY F PLAY 6FILL ! G\RDS4

,PROGRESS 0 SL[ ) U4 ,WE PLAY$ "? LIFE1
EV5 ! ADULTS1 M* 9 ! SAME WAY T *N
PLAY1 & WE PLAY$ Z N"O (! O!R ANIMALS
PLAY$4 ,:AT LL WE LE>N$1 0 USU,Y 9 !
C\RSE ( PLAY1 & 0 DUE 6\R CURIOS;Y &
KE5;S ( APPRECI,N4 ,= T MATT]1 ! "O BIG
9V5;N (! HORDE1 DUR+ ! "T ,I LIV$ )
X1 0 ! USE ( G\RDS4 ,AT F/ WE /OR$ ONLY
WAT] 9 ! G\RDS--IN IMIT,N ( OLD ,M>R[-
  ,B"O4
,B "O "D "S "O (! WOM5--,I D N "K :
"O--FILL$ A G\RD ) BLACK-B]RIES & C>RI$
  X
6H] CAVE4 ,9 NO "T ALL ! WOM5 7 C>RY+
B]RIES & NUTS & ROOTS 9 ! G\RDS4 ,!
  IDEA1
ONCE />T$1 _H 6G ON4 ,ANO!R EVOLU;N (!
C>RY+-RECEPTACLE 0 DUE 6! WOM54 ,)\T
D\BT1 "S WOMAN'S G\RD 0 TOO SMALL1 OR
  ELSE %E
_H =GOTT5 H] G\RD2 B 2 T Z X MAY1 %E
B5T TWO GRT L1VES TGR1 P9N+ ! S1MS )
TWIGS1 & C>RI$ HOME A BI7] QUANT;Y (
  B]RIES
?AN CD H BE5 3TA9$ 9 ! L>GE/ G\RD4










,S F> WE GOT1 & NO F>!R1 9 ! TRANSPORT,N
  (
SUPPLIES DUR+ ! YE>S ,I LIV$ )! ,FOLK4
  ,X
N"E 5T]$ ANYBODY'S H1D 6W1VE A BASKET \
  (
WILL[-)ES4 ,"S"TS ! M5 & WOM5 TI$ T\<
V9ES AB ! BUNDLES ( F]NS & BRAN*ES T !Y
C>RI$ 6! CAVES 6SLEEP ^U4 ,POSSIBLY 9 T5
  OR
TW5TY G5],NS WE MI<T H "W$ UP 6!
W1V+ ( BASKETS4 ,&( ?1 "O ?+ IS SURE3 IF
ONCE WE WOVE )ES 96BASKETS1 ! NEXT &
9EVITA# /EP WD H BE5 ! W1V+ ( CLO?4
,CLO!S WD H FOLL[$1 &) COV]+ \R
NAK$;S WD H -E MODE/Y4









,?US 0 MO;TUM GA9$ 9 ! ,"Y] ,_W4 ,B WE
7 )\T ? MO;TUM4 ,WE 7 J GETT+
/>T$1 & WE CD N G F> 9 A S+LE
G5],N4 ,WE 7 )\T W1PONS1 )\T FIRE1 &
9 ! RAW 2G9N+S ( SPEE*4 ,! DEVICE (
  WRIT+
LAY S F> 9 ! FUTURE T ,I AM APPALL$ :5
  ,I
?9K ( X4

,EV5 ,I 0 ONCE ON ! V]GE (A GRT 4COV]Y4
  ,TO
%[ Y H[ =TUIT\S 0 DEVELOP;T 9 ^? "DS
LET ME /ATE T _H X N BE5 =! GLUTTONY (
,LOP-,E> ,I MI<T H BR"\ AB ! DOME/IC,N (
! DOG4 ,& ? 0 "S?+ T ! ,FIRE ,P
:O LIV$ 6! NOR?EA/ _H N YET A*IEV$4 ,!Y
7 )\T DOGS2 ? ,I KNEW F OBS]V,N4 ,B
LET ME TELL Y H[ ,LOP-,E>'S GLUTTONY
  POSSIBLY SET
BACK \R SOCIAL DEVELOP;T _M G5],NS4




,WELL 6! WE/ ( \R CAVES 0 A GRT SWAMP1 B
  TO
! S\? LAY A /RET* ( L[1 ROCKY HILLS4 ,^!
7 LL FREQU5T$ = TWO R1SONS4 ,F/ ( ALL1
"! 0 NO FOOD "! (! K9D WE ATE2 & NEXT1
^? ROCKY HILLS 7 FILL$ )! LAIRS (
C>NIVOR\S B1/S4

,B ,LOP-,E> & ,I /RAY$ OV] 6! HILLS "O
  "D4
,WE WD N H /RAY$ _H WE N BE5 T1S+ A
TIG]4 ,PL1SE D N LAU<4 ,X 0 OLD ,SAB]-
  ,TOO?
HMF4 ,WE 7 P]FECTLY SAFE4 ,WE *.ED ^U HM
9 ! =E/1 E>LY 9 ! MORN+1 & F !
SAFETY (! BRAN*ES OV]H1D WE *ATT]$ D[N
  AT
HM \R 4LIKE & HATR$4 ,& F BRAN* 6BRAN*1
& F TREE 6TREE1 WE FOLL[$ OV]H1D1 MAK+
  AN
9F]NAL R[ & W>N+ ALL ! =E/-DWELL]S T
OLD ,SAB]-,TOO? 0 -+4



,WE SPOIL$ 8 HUNT+ = HM1 ANYWAY4 ,& WE
  MADE
HM GD & ANGRY4 ,HE SN>L$ AT U & LA%$ 8
TAIL1 & "S"TS HE PAUS$ & />$ UP AT U
QUIETLY =A L;G "T1 Z IF DEBAT+ 9 8 M9D
"S WAY 0: HE CD GET HOLD ( U4 ,B WE ONLY
LAU<$ & PELT$ HM ) TWIGS &! 5DS (
BRAN*ES4

,? TIG]-BAIT+ 0 -MON SPORT AM;G ! FOLK4
,"S"TS HALF ! HORDE WD FOLL[ F OV]H1D A
TIG] OR LION T _H V5TUR$ \ 9 ! "D"T4 ,X
0 \R REV5GE2 = M ?AN "O MEMB] (! HORDE1
CAU<T UNEXPECT$LY1 _H G"O ! WAY (!
  TIG]'S
BELLY OR ! LION'S4 ,AL1 0S* ORD1LS (
HELP.S;S & %AME1 WE TAU<T ! HUNT+
  ANIMALS
6"S EXT5T 6KEEP \ ( \R T]RITORY4 ,& !N
X 0 FUNNY4 ,X 0 A GRT GAME4





,& S ,LOP-,E> & ,I _H *AS$ ,SAB]-,TOO?
  ACR
?REE MILES ( =E/4 ,T[>D ! LA/ HE PUT 8
  TAIL
2T 8 LEGS & FL$ F \R GIB+ L A B1T5
CUR4 ,WE DID \R BE/ 6KEEP UP ) HM2 B :5
  WE
R1*$ ! $GE (! =E/ HE 0 NO M ?AN A
/R1K 9 ! 4T.E4

,I DON'T "K :AT PROMPT$ U1 UN.S X 0
  CURIOS;Y2
B AF PLAY+ >.D A:ILE1 ,LOP-,E> & ,I
  V5TUR$
ACR ! OP5 GR.D 6! $GE (! ROCKY HILLS4
,WE DID N G F>4 ,POSSIBLY AT NO "T 7 WE
  M
?AN A HUNDR$ Y>DS F ! TREES4 ,-+ >.D A
%>P CORN] ( ROCK 7WE W5T V C>E;LLY1 2C
WE DID N "K :AT WE MI<T 5C.T]71 WE CAME
  ^U
?REE PUPPIES PLAY+ 9 ! SUN4



,!Y DID N SEE U1 & WE WAT*$ !M = "S "T4
,!Y 7 WILD DOGS4 ,9 ! ROCK-WALL 0 A
  HORIZONTAL
FISSURE--EVID5TLY ! LAIR ": _! "M _H
  LEFT
!M1 & ": !Y %D H REMA9$ _H !Y BE5
OB$I5T4 ,B ! GR[+ LIFE1 T 9 ,LOP-,E> &
  ME
_H IMPELL$ U 6V5TURE AWAY F ! =E/1 _H
DRIV5 ! PUPPIES \ (! CAVE 6FROLIC4 ,I "K
H[ _! "M WD H PUNI%$ !M _H %E
CAU<T !M4

,B X 0 ,LOP-,E> & ,I :O CAU<T !M4 ,HE
  LOOK$ AT
ME1 & !N WE MADE A DA% = X4 ,! PUPPIES
  KNEW
NO PLACE 6RUN EXCEPT 96! LAIR1 & WE H1D$
!M (F4 ,"O RU%$ 2T MY LEGS4 ,I SQUATT$ &
GRA2$ HM4 ,HE SANK 8 %>P LL TEE? 96MY
>M1 & ,I DROPP$ HM 9 ! SU45;S (! HURT
& SURPRISE4 ,! NEXT MO;T HE _H SCURRI$
  9SIDE4


,LOP-,E>1 /RU7L+ )! SECOND PUPPY1 SC[L$
  AT
ME & 9TIMAT$ 0A V>IETY ( S.DS ! DI6]5T
K9DS (A FOOL &A BUNGL] T ,I WAS4 ,? MADE
  ME
A%AM$ & SPURR$ ME 6VALOR4 ,I GRA2$ !
REMA9+ PUPPY 0! TAIL4 ,HE GOT 8 TEE?
  96ME
ONCE1 & !N ,I GOT HM 0! NAPE (! NECK4
,LOP-,E> & ,I SAT D[N1 & HELD ! PUPPIES
  UP1 &
LOOK$ AT !M1 & LAU<$4













,!Y 7 SN>L+ & YELP+ & CRY+4 ,LOP-,E>
/>T$ SU45LY4 ,HE ?"\ HE _H HE>D "S?+4
,WE LOOK$ AT EA* O!R 9 FE>1 R1LIZ+ !
  DANG]
( \R POSI;N4 ,! "O ?+ T MADE ANIMALS
RAG+ DEMONS 0 TAMP]+ ) _! "Y4 ,&
^! PUPPIES T MADE S* A RACKET 2L;G$ 6!
WILD DOGS4 ,WELL WE KNEW !M1 RUNN+ 9
  PACKS1 !
T]ROR (! GRASS-EAT+ ANIMALS4 ,WE _H
  WAT*$
!M FOLL[+ ! H]DS ( CATTLE & BISON &
DRA7+ D[N ! CALVES1 ! AG$1 &! SICK4 ,WE
_H BE5 *AS$ 0!M \RVS1 M ?AN ONCE4 ,I
_H SE5 "O (! ,FOLK1 A WOMAN1 RUN D[N 0!M
  &
CAU<T J Z %E R1*$ ! %ELT] (! WOODS4
,_H %E N BE5 TIR$ \ 0! RUN1 %E MI<T H
MADE X 96A TREE4 ,%E TRI$1 & SLIPP$1 &
  FELL
BACK4 ,!Y MADE %ORT "W ( H]4




,WE DID N />E AT EA* O!R L;G] ?AN A
  MO;T4
,KEEP+ TI<T HOLD ( \R PRIZES1 WE RAN =!
  WOODS4
,ONCE 9 ! SECUR;Y (A TALL TREE1 WE HELD
  UP !
PUPPIES & LAU<$ AG4 ,Y SEE1 WE _H 6H \R
LAU< \1 NO MATT] :AT HAPP5$4

,& !N 2GAN "O (! H>DE/ TASKS ,I "E
ATTEMPT$4 ,WE />T$ 6C>RY ! PUPPIES 6\R
CAVE4 ,9/1D ( US+ \R H&S = CLIMB+1 MO/ (
! "T !Y 7 O3UPI$ ) HOLD+ \R SQUIRM+
CAPTIVES4 ,ONCE WE TRI$ 6WALK ON ! GR.D1
  B
7 TRE$ 0A MIS]A# HY5A1 :O FOLL[$ AL;G
"UN1?4 ,HE 0 A WISE HY5A4








,LOP-,E> GOT AN IDEA4 ,HE REMEMB]$ H[ WE
  TI$ UP
BUNDLES ( L1VES 6C>RY HOME = B$S4 ,BR1K+
  (F
"S T\< V9ES1 HE TI$ 8 PUPPY'S LEGS TGR1
& !N1 ) ANO!R PIECE ( V9E PASS$ >.D 8
NECK1 SLUNG ! PUPPY ON 8 BACK4 ,? LEFT
  HM )
H&S & FEET FREE 6CLIMB4 ,HE 0 JUBILANT1
  & DID
N WAIT = ME 6F9I% TY+ MY PUPPY'S LEGS1 B
/>T$ ON4 ,"! 0 "O DI6ICULTY1 H["E4 ,!
PUPPY WDN'T /AY SLUNG ON ,LOP-,E>'S
  BACK4 ,X SWUNG
>.D 6! SIDE & !N ON 9 FRONT4 ,XS TEE?
7 N TI$1 &! NEXT ?+ X DID 0 6S9K
XS TEE? 96,LOP-,E>'S S(T & UNPROTECT$
  /OMA*4
,HE LET \ A SCR1M1 NE>LY FELL1 & CLUT*$
  A BRAN*
VIOL5TLY ) BO? H&S 6SAVE HMF4 ,! V9E
>.D 8 NECK BROKE1 &! PUPPY1 XS F\R LEGS
/ TI$1 DROPP$ 6! GR.D4 ,! HY5A PROCE$$
6D9E4

,LOP-,E> 0 4GU/$ & ANGRY4 ,HE ABUS$ !
  HY5A1
& !N W5T (F AL"O "? ! TREES4 ,I _H NO
R1SON T ,I KNEW = WANT+ 6C>RY ! PUPPY TO
! CAVE1 EXCEPT T ,I ,,WANT$ TO2 & ,I
  /AY$ 0MY
TASK4 ,I MADE ! "W A GRT D1L EASI] BY
ELABORAT+ ON ,LOP-,E>'S IDEA4 ,N ONLY
  DID ,I TIE !
PUPPY'S LEGS1 B ,I ?RU/ A /ICK "? 8 JAWS
  &

  TI$ !M TGR SECURELY4












,AT LA/ ,I GOT ! PUPPY HOME4 ,I IMAG9E
  ,I _H M
P]T9AC;Y ?AN ! AV]AGE ,FOLK1 OR ELSE ,I
  %D N
H SU3E$$4 ,!Y LAU<$ AT ME :5 !Y SAW ME
LU7+ ! PUPPY UP 6MY HI< LL CAVE1 B ,I
  DID
N M9D4 ,SU3ESS CR[N$ MY EF=TS1 & "! 0
! PUPPY4 ,HE 0 A PLAY?+ S* Z N"O (!
  ,FOLK
POSSESS$4 ,HE LE>N$ RAPIDLY4 ,:5 ,I
  PLAY$ ) HM
& HE BIT ME1 ,I BOX$ 8 E>S1 & !N HE DID
  N
TRY AG 6BITE =A L;G "T4










,I 0 Q TAK5 UP ) HM4 ,HE 0 "S?+ NEW1
& X 0 A "*I/IC (! ,FOLK 6L NEW
?+S4 ,:5 ,I SAW T HE REFUS$ FRUITS &
VEGETA#S1 ,I CAU<T BIRDS = HM &
  SQUIRRELS &
"Y RA2ITS4 7,WE ,FOLK 7 M1T-EAT]S1 Z
  WELL Z
VEGET>IANS1 & WE 7 ADEPT AT CAT*+ SMALL
  GAME47
,! PUPPY ATE ! M1T & ?RIV$4 ,Z WELL Z ,I
  C
E/IMATE1 ,I M/ H _H HM OV] A WEEK4 ,&
  !N1
-+ BACK 6! CAVE "O "D )A NE/;L (
"Y-HAT*$ PH1SANTS1 ,I F.D ,LOP-,E> _H
  KILL$ !
PUPPY & 0 J 2G9N+ 6EAT HM4 ,I SPRANG =
,LOP-,E>1--! CAVE 0 SMALL1--& WE W5T AT
  X TOO?
& NAIL4





,& ?US1 9 A FI<T1 5D$ "O (! E>LIE/
ATTEMPTS 6DOME/ICATE ! DOG4 ,WE PULL$
  HAIR \ 9
H&;LS1 & SCRAT*$ & BIT & G\G$4 ,!N WE
SULK$ & MADE UP4 ,AF T WE ATE ! PUPPY4
  ,RAW8
,YES4 ,WE _H N YET 4COV]$ FIRE4 ,\R
  EVOLU;N
96COOK+ ANIMALS LAY 9 ! TI<T-ROLL$
  SCROLL (
! FUTURE4