DORIS LESSING
15
Them. And my brothers looked at me just as They did: as if I was so dif–
ferent they didn't want to be near me. I thought I must not go back to
Them: I don't want my brothers to make me go away from them. So I
went with my brothers to the valley where the fruit is ripe, and that night
we slept up in a big tree we use for sleeping when the fruit is ready, and
next day we three chased a hare and killed it and ate it. But I was think–
ing how They put meat into that hollow thin stone and put water in it
and then on the fire it becomes something else. I did not tell my brothers.
I was thinking ofThem. I wanted Them. I wanted to be where They are.
I wanted more of that soft easy food because it is what They eat. I wanted
to see the Female's dark hair in the light of the flames which is like water
with the red setting sun in it. I wanted all of Them, their high running
voices like birds, and the soft warmth of their fire. I wanted Them.
And I had to go back. When my brothers were still asleep one
morning I went off and saw there was no smoke corning from the huts. I
knew They often left one place of huts and went to another but this time
they did not mean to be gone for long because they had their animals in a
place that had stones around it too high for the animals to get out. They
are big animals, bigger than They are or we are. And they have four legs,
like deer, but they are bigger than even our biggest deer. They have long
hair falling from their necks, black hair and it reminded me of the
Female's hair. I went into that place where the animals were, and they
were afraid of me at first, but then not, and went on eating the dry grass
They had put there for them to eat. I went to the animal that was black,
with black shining hair falling from its neck, and I stroked the hair,
though it was not as soft as the Female's hair. Then I wove it together, as
I saw some of Them weave Theirs, the hair separated and then plaited as
we put together thin branches to make a bed or long grass to keep the hot
sun off While I did this I thought of the Female and her hair. I thought I
would like to have one of their Females come up to where I and my
brothers live but I know she is too soft and small and not strong and she
did not have enough hair everywhere to keep her warm high in the
snows where we live.
While I stood by the animal and played with its hair I was not look–
ing at the huts, and then I did and saw some children had crept out, with
stones and sticks and they were all around me. But I shouted and leaped
over the stones and ran back up here.
I stayed while the sun came and went for many times and all the time
I thought of Them and wondered why They are so fine and without hair
and knew how to cover themselves and have fires and make plants grow
in the bare earth. And how They make their voices sing up and down.
Why are They like what They are? Why are we like what we are?
When the snow came down on Them, They put the seeds of the
