'Yes, but it is not a good likeness.'
Her mind raced so that she hardly heard him. Was it possible? Had life reverted to its primitive, violent stages before Man, evolution in reverse? Her scientific education told her no, it couldn't happen. But was anything impossible here? She doubted it. She turned the pages again, stopped at the illustration of a lesser species of cave-bear. Again she showed him the book.
'Yes, I have seen them, though they live mostly to the north and west. But it is not a good likeness.'
Exasperated: 'Why, Kalus? Why isn't it a good likeness?'
'Because the bear is standing—-in life a bear only stands when it is going to fight—-and still he is only a head taller than the tribesman. I tell you, the bears of the north are much larger.'
'Tribesman?' In her haste she had failed to note the two fur-clad Neanderthals which stalked it, spear in hand, from behind a group of rocks. The face of the nearer was hard and set, with swept-back cheekbones and heavy, prominent brow. Eyes animal, and yet not animal. The caption said something about, EARLY MAN IS BELIEVED TO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY HUNTED…..
'No. It can't be.' Her eyes went wide. 'Your people look like this?' This time he had no reservations.
'Yes.'
She sat there numb. The realization of the truth had quite overwhelmed her. Mindless, soulless animals returning to the form of their primitive ancestors were one thing. Men….. But it was more than even that. For the first time in her life she knew, really knew, that Man had once been caught in between, neither fully instinctive nor rational, animal nor human, left to cross the tenuous bridge alone, and for thousands of years. The intensity of their fear, and answering determination, must have been terrifying.
And at what point did he develop a clear mind, and immortal soul? She nearly wept at the thought: Man's immortal soul. As opposed to the mortal, unfeeling animals. What a sad and sorry farce. She looked first to Kalus, then at the wolf—-who stood regarding her from the entrance, feeling, but not understanding her pain. She turned again to Kalus. One last hope.