50
He had hunted moose and caribou7 and the ferocious8 black bears of the mountains. Once he had fought off a wolf with no better weapon than a club. His long association with the wild and its denizens9 had bred in him a certain uncanny wisdom. Insects and beasts and birds—he knew them all with the unerring certainty of a trained naturalist10. Yet now, standing11 in the bright glare of the sun, gaze focused on certain huge dark specks12 in the distant horizon, it was evident from his expression that at last he had seen something he could not classify.
Two birds of mammoth13, gigantic size were flying straight towards him. Larger than a moose or bear, of greater size even than the largest tepee, they sailed through the air, drumming as they went. Their speed and size and the horrible noise they made so frightened poor Kantisepa, that he crouched14 low in a thicket15, resolving under no circumstances to show himself to the invaders16.
Two of the huge birds flew close together—evidently for companionship. The third one, probably much younger—for it was smaller—brought up the rear, at a considerable distance behind its mates. As this bird drew close to the clearing, an incredible thing happened. It fluttered suddenly and began to fall. It came down, spinning, righted itself, coasted along for quite a distance, as if planning to alight, then lost control of its equilibrium17 entirely18 and crashed to the ground with such a sickening thud that Kantisepa was quite sure that it was destroyed utterly19.
51
The two other birds were almost out of sight when the catastrophe20 occurred. These, Kantisepa considered, must be the parent birds, and in their eagerness to reach their destination, had probably forgotten their offspring, which was probably just learning to fly. At any rate, though the Indian stood a long time waiting, the others did not return and, finally, overcome by the natural curiosity of his race, he set out in the direction of the luckless victim.
When he had approached to within a few hundred yards of his objective, he was startled almost out of his senses. Crawling out of the mass of broken wings and fragments of the bird’s body, came a curious animal, which in many respects resembled a man. A very marked difference between the creature and a man was the enormous size of the creature’s eyes—three or four times larger than the eyes of his own people—composed of some peculiar21 substance which glinted and sparkled under the bright reflection of the sun. Then Kantisepa noted22 another peculiarity23: Although possessing legs almost identical to his own, this strange being did not stand upon them in the ordinary manner, but chose instead to walk on both arms and legs, as a bear sometimes walks. Of a very ready and open mind, Kantisepa could explain the creature’s presence in only one way: a parasite24 of some kind, possessing the same relationship to the bird as a flea25 would to a dog.
52
Coming still closer, he was forced to readjust his first impressions. He knew wood and iron when he saw it. He gasped26 in wonderment. No bird at all! Instead a magic ship, a marvelous creation, invested with the strange power of sailing through the air. It, together with the two others, had come from some remote land beyond the stars. Trembling in every limb, he approached the strange being, who had crawled away from the wreckage27 of the ship. The creature was grievously hurt. Blood trickled28 on the ground beneath him. He had abandoned his efforts to crawl away and now lay perfectly29 still, his shoulders heaving in distress30 and pain.
Not without pity, Kantisepa shuddered31 at the sorry sight. With a slight grimace32, he turned and walked over to examine the magic ship. Peering down within the center of the wreckage, he saw the form of another creature, identical to the first except that this one was hopelessly crushed and apparently33 quite dead. He withdrew his gaze quickly and turned back again to the first being, who still retained some signs of life.
Kantisepa quickly decided34 upon a course of action. He walked forward, stooped down and picked up the man from beyond the stars and started off in the direction of the village. He would take him to the chief medicine man, who, if he could not actually save the creature’s life, could at least place him on exhibition for the benefit of his curious kinsmen35.
53
The village was a good six miles away, but the stalwart Indian on previous occasions had carried heavier burdens. He would proceed half way to his destination that night and the remainder on the following morning. He was forced to move slowly and to rest often. The hours passed. Finally the sun slid down to a far corner of the world until only a dazzling sector36 of light remained. Kantisepa made camp just as night dropped its curtain of dusk over the earth. Near at hand, he could hear the murmur37 of a tiny stream, above which a mist arose, spreading out gradually like a gray protecting shroud38 above the natural willow39 hedges fringing the stream. Presently, the dew wet the grass. With a mournful, unearthly cry, a night bird swooped40 down to the place where Kantisepa stood, rising again on whirring wings to the dark vault41 of the sky.
“It is an ill omen,” he thought, a sudden fear gripping his heart.
And so through the brooding, interminable hours he had remained awake. First he had bathed and dressed the wounds of the strange being, then, wrapping him in his own blanket to shut out the damp cool air, he had kept silent vigil. Time crept on, its movements so slow and wearied that it seemed to him that day would never come. The tense silence oppressed him. It throbbed42 in his ears until the reaction of any slight sound smote43 sharply upon him.
54
Morning came at last, heralded44 by flaming colors in the east, preceded by a fitful breeze that stirred the dry grass uneasily at his feet. Kantisepa was very tired. His body was stiff and sore. When he picked up the strange being again to resume his journey, his legs trembled, scarcely supporting him.
Late that morning he stumbled into the Indian encampment. Like many brown inverted45 cones46 were the dwellings47 that stood row on row within a narrow, peaceful valley. Through the center of the village trickled a brook48, which was fed from numerous small springs bubbling up between broken rocks.
The place slept in a glare of brilliant sunlight. Dogs lay curled up in the shade of the tepees. Children played listlessly in the dead grass or waded49 knee-deep in the riffles of the brook. Here and there Kantisepa discerned the squat50 indolent forms of women and, farther on, standing at the extreme end of a willow copse, a single solitary51 hunter.
Suddenly the village came out of its picturesque52 somnolence53. A dog barked unexpectedly near at hand. Magically, the plain became dotted with a scurrying54 throng55. Men, women and children tumbled forth56 from drab tepees. Sharp cries arose. Led by the most nimble of foot, the entire populace raced forward to meet the returning hunter. Soon he was completely surrounded. Inquisitive57 eyes peered down at the strange being. Kantisepa was forced to put down his burden and immediately a babble58 of voices arose, continuing until a tall, gaudily-apparelled warrior59 pushed his way through to the spot and waved one arm peremptorily60.
55
“Who is this you have brought among us?” he demanded.
“A strange god from the skies,” Kantisepa answered proudly. “He came on a ship which sailed through the clouds, but which met with disaster.”
“Are you sure he will not bring a curse upon us?” inquired the old warrior.
Kantisepa wiped the perspiration61 from his face.
“He is without friends and without people,” he asserted. “A number of his comrades in other magic ships of the air saw him fall but did not come to his rescue.”
The chief stooped down and examined the partially62 conscious figure.
“He is a young man—a mere63 stripling youth. Did he travel alone?”
Kantisepa shook his head.
“No, there was one other with him, who now is dead.”
With a wave of his arm, the chief dismissed the jostling crowd and turned again to the hunter.
“You have done well,” he complimented him. “Raise him up and bring him to my tepee.”
Morning had passed. South the sun swept through blue unclouded skies. Together Kantisepa and the chief went forward through a lane of curious natives.
56
“This being is hurt and cannot return to his people,” said Kantisepa. “His wonder ship of the air became demolished64 when it fell from the clouds.”
They entered the tepee where Kantisepa deposited his burden gently on a soft rabbit-robe, then rose with a weary gesture and turned again to the headman of his tribe.
“It is a strange story,” he declared. “Yet it is true. If you will summon the chief men of the village, this afternoon I will lead you and them to the magic ship.”
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1
immutable
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| adj.不可改变的，永恒的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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6
lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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7
caribou
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| n.北美驯鹿 | |
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8
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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9
denizens
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| n.居民，住户( denizen的名词复数 ) | |
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10
naturalist
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| n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者) | |
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11
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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12
specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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13
mammoth
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| n.长毛象；adj.长毛象似的，巨大的 | |
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14
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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16
invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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17
equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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18
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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19
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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20
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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21
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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22
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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23
peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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24
parasite
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| n.寄生虫；寄生菌；食客 | |
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25
flea
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| n.跳蚤 | |
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26
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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27
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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28
trickled
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| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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29
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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30
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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31
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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32
grimace
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| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
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33
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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34
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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35
kinsmen
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| n.家属，亲属( kinsman的名词复数 ) | |
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36
sector
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| n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形 | |
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37
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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38
shroud
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| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
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39
willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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40
swooped
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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42
throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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43
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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44
heralded
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| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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45
inverted
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| adj.反向的，倒转的v.使倒置，使反转( invert的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
cones
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| n.（人眼）圆锥细胞；圆锥体( cone的名词复数 )；球果；圆锥形东西；（盛冰淇淋的）锥形蛋卷筒 | |
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47
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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48
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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49
waded
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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51
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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52
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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53
somnolence
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| n.想睡，梦幻；欲寐；嗜睡；嗜眠 | |
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54
scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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55
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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56
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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57
inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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58
babble
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| v.含糊不清地说，胡言乱语地说，儿语 | |
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59
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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60
peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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61
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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62
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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63
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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64
demolished
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| v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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