Can I say that the sight of this girl inspired in me any emotion
stronger than my passions of hunger and thirst? Not so. I was in the
full bloom of my manhood, yet the sight of this beautiful woman thrilled
me because now I knew instinctively I might find food and water.
I scrambled forward, holding myself to the ground with difficulty, and
entered the mouth of her cave like some marauding animal seeking the
sustenance I craved.
The cave-mouth gave into a tunnel leading at an angle downward. The
walls were smooth. I forced myself down, half sliding, half gently
falling. For an instant the thought came to me that I would encounter
other living creatures—things to keep me from the food and drink I
wanted. Had I met them—humans or beasts—I know I should have fought
desperately.
It was dark in the tunnel; but soon I saw that the rocks were glowing
with a phosphorescence. This grew brighter as I advanced.
I went down perhaps two hundred feet; then the tunnel opened. I was in a
subterranean chamber of indeterminate size, possibly five hundred feet
square, with a black rocky ceiling some fifty feet above me. The whole
place was dimly lighted by the red-silver glow which came from the
rocks. The air was denser, with a pungent, aromatic odor. It seemed to
strengthen me and clear my head.
The sides of the cave were rough and broken with overhanging rocks like
shelves. Here and there were other small tunnel-mouths. Most important
of all, a small subterranean stream crossed the cave, opening up into a
little lagoon near the center. It was a thin-looking, milk-white fluid.
I flung myself down to it with a splash.
It tasted, not like milk, but like pure, cold water, though very thin
and light. I drank my fill. The joy of it!
There was a pile of blue fabric—woven grass—on the bank beside the
stream. The girl’s couch, it proved to be. The robes were very soft,
gossamer in weight. I started to dry myself upon one of them. But the
water—I shall call it that—evaporated like alcohol, and I was dry in a
moment.
There was food here. A patch of black soil had queer, fungus-like
growths in it. I had no doubt it was the girl’s food. There were the
remains of a fire, though I did not know what it was at the time. On a
stone was some of the fungus which had been cooked. Of this I ate.
Upon the couch I lay at ease. The blue robes lay around me like swan’s
down. My slight weight made me seem floating in them. It was my first
conscious moment of physical peace.
* * * * *
With hunger and thirst appeased my thoughts turned to the girl. She was
not only the first woman, but, to my memory, the first living thing I
had ever seen. Where was she now? Could I capture her?
Across the cave I saw something move. The mouth of a passageway was
there beyond the stream; and in the dim glow of light I could make out
the girl standing there. She was watching me as I lay in possession of
her couch.
I held myself motionless. After a moment she began coming forward,
timidly, yet curiously to inspect me. She stopped at the edge of the
stream no more than fifty feet away. Her hair fell in waves to her
knees. She stood hesitating, frightened, yet drawn by a power greater
than her fear. I could see the muscles of her limbs tensed for instant
flight.
I had intended to leap suddenly across the stream but a strange shyness
came over me. Instead, I called to her. Words? I had no spoken language.
I called some syllable. It startled her; but she answered—a soft little
call of shy friendliness.
I wanted her to come to my side of the stream, but she would not. I
beckoned to her; but she moved backward on fairy-like tip-toed steps. It
angered me. I waved my arm vehemently and tried to climb to my feet,
struggling with the airy, half-floating robes of the couch.
The girl took flight. Her arms struck out, and like a swimmer mounting
through water she floated up to the ceiling, landing upon a ledge of
rock. Through a tangle of her hair her face peered down at me. And
though her eyes were frightened, there seemed an impish, mocking
expression to her tremulous smile.
Shyness dropped from me. She would obey me; I would make her. I kicked
myself into the air and swam as I had seen her swim. But it was not as
easy as it looked. I turned over in the air, losing my balance in spite
of myself.
I reached the ledge, striking my shoulder violently upon it as I landed
in a heap. But she was not there. Across the cave, down by the couch she
stood poised on tip-toe, looking at me. And this time her red mouth and
dancing eyes were openly mocking.
For half an hour I pursued her about the cave; but she eluded me as
easily as though she had been a butterfly and I one of your
Earth-children in eager chase. She could have escaped from the cave, but
she had no fear of me now. At last, bruised and exhausted by my futile
efforts, I sank upon her couch; and again she stood nearby, regarding
me.
I was angry and sulky. I pretended to disregard her. At last, utterly
worn out, I fell asleep.