Lilith woke thirsty and bent to drink at a pond. As she lowered cupped hands, her reflection came into view. She was filthy. Her hair was in knots, and small sticks and leaves wove through her curls.
Lilith sat down and combed fingers through her tangles. Clumps of mud rained on her thighs and feet. She worked her hair while the sun rose, and continued through the morning, oblivious to the sounds of the forest. New birds flew and sang in pairs. Shrubs shivered as animals moved through them.
She combed until her hair hung free of debris, and when she lifted her face to the world, noticed
that everything moved in sets of two. Only she was alone.
A wind rose and whispered through the top of the trees. Lilith looked up. Adam sat in the crotch of an old oak, arms folded over his chest. He leaned against the trunk and smiled. "I’ve seen you," he said.
“While you’ve been tending to your vanity, I’ve been watching. Does that make you feel good?" His gaze dropped from her face and lingered for a moment on her breasts, then rose again. The corner of his lips
moved up a bit more, and his face pinked.
Lilith’s skin burned. “It doesn’t make me feel anything." She stood and came close to the tree, shaded her face with a palm and looked closely at Adam, so different and yet familiar. “You have dirt all over
you," she announced.
“It’s not dirt," Adam said. “I’m covered in dust. You're the dirty one." He jumped down and when he was grounded, wiped his hands against each other and grasped Lilith’s elbow. “Shall we go?"
She jerked back her arm. “Where?"
“My place," he replied.
He walked and Lilith followed, not to be less than he, but because he knew where to go, Lilith thought as she watched his buttocks jiggle. Each time his foot hit the hardened ground, his muscles shook, just once, and for only a moment. “You have a nice ass," she said.
Adam stopped fast and turned to face her. His brow furrowed and he stared hard into her eyes.
“You are pretty forward," he said. “Is that the right thing for a woman to say, or even think?"
Lilith stared right back, not daring to blink. A flame grew in her chest and suddenly his bottom didn’t seem nearly as inviting. “I say what I think when I want," she said. “Surely you do the same."
“I do, but I can. You are supposed to listen to me. Now come on." With that, Adam grabbed her arm, turned and continued on his path. His footfall, even heavier than before, was quick and Lilith stumbled, but Adam did not slow down. She regained her balance with difficulty and jogged to keep up with him.
Lilith quelled the anger that grew within her. This was not a great way to start things. He was headstrong and willfmight be able to get him to see her side. But what if she couldn’t?
Their fast pace through the woods softened both tempers, and as they moved, it slowed until they fell in time and walked side by side.
She glanced up at him; his profile was sharp and not unattractive. His brow bent around large black eyes that darted over the lush forest. A long aquiline nose rose above full motile lips. His long, muscular limbs seemed built for action, and ended in broad hands and feet. She wanted to touch them.
Instead, she said, “I didn’t mean to upset you."
“I know."
“But it’s true. And I’ll say as I feel."
“Let’s not talk about it."
“We’ll talk later."
“I’ll be busy." Adam set his jaw tight and loosened it, over and over. The side of his throat pulsed.
Lilith sighed. They walked in silence, through a valley and, after crossing a brook, turned to walk besides it. After a time, the brook broke out onto a sunlit meadow where in the distance, a lion moved over the back of a lioness, arched his back a few times, and released her. “What’s that? She asked.
Adam stopped and turned to face her. “That’s how the animals breed."
“How odd," Lilith said, “but I suppose they both maintain their balance that way." She began walking again. Adam caught up with her, passed her, and pointed across the field, where a mound of soft hay had been piled between two trees. “There’s my place," Adam said. “I have food. Are you hungry?"
“I don’t know."
“We will see," Adam said, and they walked to his nest. Adam knelt beside the piled hay, reached under a corner of it and pulled out a melon, cool from the shade. He broke it open and handed half to Lilith. He smiled. “Here. Try this."
She took it. Adam bit into his half, and Lilith followed his example. Her eyes grew large and she smiled too. “It’s wonderful!" Under the flesh of her face, her jaws ached for a second and her mouth watered. Suddenly her middle felt hollow and she bit hard and fast into the fruit, gorging on it, and
another that Adam gave her as he saw her need. She ate and ate until her jaw was tired and her belly full.
Then she lay back on the sweet hay, where Adam had reclined and had laughed as he watched her eat. She rolled on her side and said, “That felt good."
“I remember," Adam said. “When I awoke, I had no idea. You will see." He rolled to face her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. He drew her to him and she did not resist.
But as they moved to couple, she assumed the position she’d seen the animals take. He rolled her onto her back and slid above her, nudging her thighs apart with his knees.
“That’s not right," she said and tried to press her legs together. He held his place, his strength greater than hers, and insisted. With a bit of force he was inside her.
“No," she said and scooted her bottom back.
“It’s not right. You can take me like the lions but I will not lie helplessly beneath you. Would you lie beneath me?"
“You will do as I command." He insisted, with both his mouth and his body.
Night rose and fell away while Lilith and Adam slept. Dawn unfolded around Lilith and she stretched to the morning. She shook her head, remembered, and ran palms over her hair. No mud, just random blades of hay. Lilith removed them, then rose and squatted by a tree.ul, maybe as much as she. Lilith would bide her temper for a time, and with patience might be able to get him to see her side. But what if she couldn’t?
Their fast pace through the woods softened both tempers, and as they moved, it slowed until they fell
in time and walked side by side.
She glanced up at him; his profile was sharp and not unattractive. His brow bent around large black
eyes that darted over the lush forest. A long aquiline nose rose above full motile lips. His long, muscular
limbs seemed built for action, and ended in broad hands and feet. She wanted to touch them.
Instead, she said, “I didn’t mean to upset you."
“I know."
“But it’s true. And I’ll say as I feel."
“Let’s not talk about it."
“We’ll talk later."
“I’ll be busy." Adam set his jaw tight and loosened it, over and over. The side of his throat pulsed.
Lilith sighed. They walked in silence, through a valley and, after crossing a brook, turned to walk
besides it. After a time, the brook broke out onto a sunlit meadow where in the distance, a lion moved
over the back of a lioness, arched his back a few times, and released her. “What’s that? She asked.
Adam stopped and turned to face her. “That’s how the animals breed."
“How odd," Lilith said, “but I suppose they both maintain their balance that way." She began walking
again. Adam caught up with her, passed her, and pointed across the field, where a mound of soft hay had
been piled between two trees. “There’s my place," Adam said. “I have food. Are you hungry?"
“I don’t know."
“We will see," Adam said, and they walked to his nest. Adam knelt beside the piled hay, reached
under a corner of it and pulled out a melon, cool from the shade. He broke it open and handed half to
Lilith. He smiled. “Here. Try this."
She took it. Adam bit into his half, and Lilith followed his example. Her eyes grew large and she
smiled too. “It’s wonderful!" Under the flesh of her face, her jaws ached for a second and her mouth
watered. Suddenly her middle felt hollow and she bit hard and fast into the fruit, gorging on it, and
another that Adam gave her as he saw her need. She ate and ate until her jaw was tired and her belly full.
Then she lay back on the sweet hay, where Adam had reclined and had laughed as he watched her eat. She
rolled on her side and said, “That felt good."
“I remember," Adam said. “When I awoke, I had no idea. You will see." He rolled to face her and
gently placed a hand on her shoulder. He drew her to him and she did not resist.
But as they moved to couple, she assumed the position she’d seen the animals take. He rolled her
onto her back and slid above her, nudging her thighs apart with his knees.
“That’s not right," she said and tried to press her legs together. He held his place, his strength greater
than hers, and insisted. With a bit of force he was inside her.
“No," she said and scooted her bottom back. “It’s not right. You can take me like the lions but I will
not lie helplessly beneath you. Would you lie beneath me?"
“You will do as I command." He insisted, with both his mouth and his body.
Night rose and fell away while Lilith and Adam slept. Dawn unfolded around Lilith and she stretched
to the morning. She shook her head, remembered, and ran palms over her hair. No mud, just random
blades of hay. Lilith removed them, then rose and squatted by a tree.
"
Adam lifted his head and watched. “You should move further away from this bedding than that. He
rolled off the hay pile and moved to the edge of the woods. “Here’s where I pee, and you should too."
Lilith shook her bottom and stood up. “Are you going to tell me how to do everything?" she asked.
“It is my job to do so." Adam approached a stern look on his face.
Again, thought Lilith, but she kept her mouth shut. Her chin pushed forward though, and she watched
him come closer.
Adam stepped hard as he came, his fingers tightening and loosening. “I have been naming animals and
directing action. I am experienced at it and you must do as the beasts do. I’m in charge and you are here for my pleasure." His jaw clenched.
“For your pleasure? I don’t think so!" Lilith stood straight and thrust out her chest.
“Yes, that’s what I’'ve been told." He moved forward a step.
“No one's told me anything and I've had enough of your telling me what to do."
“Me too," Adam agreed. “This is not what I asked for." He turned to leave but she followed close
behind.
“What you asked for?" She raised her eyebrows. “You asked for me and I appeared? Wrong. I just
woke up. That’s all."
He jerked around, his lips twisted in his red face. “Yes, I asked for a mate and you awoke. You are
mine."
“No!" She spit at him. “I am not yours. Did you ask for a mate or a beast? I will not do as you
choose, but as we decide together, and If we walk together it will only be as equals."
“So be it," Adam said, and he walked away.
Adam did not return to the place where they’d slept. Lilith disposed of spent hay and replaced it with
fragrant green grasses. As the day progressed, flies collected on the remains of their dinner. She gathered up the scraps and buried them by the riverbank. Evening came, her hunger returned so she scavenged. She
watched small mammals to see what they ate, and followed suit. Lilith learned that although many ate grass,
it tasted dull, not like the melons that Adam had fed her the night before, but she ate it anyway. The birds
hunted for bugs. Lilith tried a spider. She tore off a leg and liquid from inside dripped down her forearm.
She licked it up -- sweet but not filling. Lilith tried a beetle. Crunchy.
Night approached and Lilith slept, but not soundly. Rustlings in the forest and hoots from night birds
demanded her attention.
Days passed. Adam did not return to the nest, so Lilith worked hard to make it her own. She brought
fallen timbers from near the creek bed and formed a framework to hold the bedding. She collected flowers
and fruit for future meals, and piled them on low branches to keep them away from the earthbound
insects.
In time, the area that Lilith knew increased, and small animals no longer scampered freely near her, unless
under cover of the night and then only as she slept. She learned to move silently and to lay traps.
Lilith grew to move with grace in her environment. The nights lengthened and grew cold. Lilith saved
the furs of small game she’d caught, and burrowed beneath them for warmth. Fresh fruit and vegetables
became scarce so she worked harder at collecting them and ate less.
As the days shortened, the steady green forest leaves changed to scarlets and golds and then to brittle
browns, which, when the winds blew, abandoned the branches. Lilith slept longer, and sometimes hid from
the bitter cold through day and night. Her larder emptied and Lilith knew deep hunger.
But the cold season broke and led to longer days and more gentle nights. Lilith had been alone for so long that she was not certain if she had ever known companionship, or whether Adam had been part of the elaborate hunt dreams that kept her company as she slept, where she met people that looked like her and some that looked like Adam. She named them and felt powerful, and in the mornings never knew whether the events that had occurred at night were real, or had been thewandering of her lonely mind.
The spring grew and food became abundant again. Lilith’s larder swelled. She wandered further, exploring sometimes for days, and kept track of her traveling by attending to the sun’s position.
She had crossed two rivers and a mountain when she saw an otter skin left on a boulder. Its belly was sliced from throat to loin.. Another day she found a deer carcass thrown over a high limb, covered by large leaves. Could Adam have done it? At that moment, she remembered his touch and their coupling. She missed their one shared meal, like a blade in her heart, and yet Lilith was unsure whether she wanted to speak with him at all. His hard headedness and need to dominate stillannoyed her. Nevertheless, she was curious about how he’d fared over the winter. She wondered if he’d thinned as she had.
Lilith wanted to see him. She hid beneath nearby shrubs and waited. She lay under the spring
green bower and smelled what the wind brought her way: lilacs and lavender, a boar. Crickets called
and time stood still. Lilith curled into a ball, rested her head on clasped hands, and dozed.
She woke with a start as heavy footfall in the distance thudded through the earth under her belly
and hip. Its rhythm too regular -- a twostep that could only have been that of a human. Lilith’s
breath came fast in excitement. She slowed it and loosened her suddenly tense limbs. She raised her
body and shifted a branch to watch what approached.
It was not Adam who broke through a thicket, but one like herself, smaller than Lilith, with dark hair tied off her face and animal skins wrapped across her breasts and over her gravid belly. Lilith knew she could easily best this woman so she simply watched as the other woman reached up and pulled the animal carcass free from the high tree limb. It came down on her with a thump and the woman fell. She groaned.
The woman, caught under the heavy weight, could not free herself. Lilith rose from her bower and lifted the carcass. The woman struggled to her feet. “That’s mine!"
“I know it is," Lilith answered. “I can get all that I need for myself." She let it fall. “I wanted to
see if you were all right."
“You hid." The woman held Lilith’s gaze.
“Yes, I thought you would be Adam," Lilith said. “But you are not."
“I’m Eve, his wife. What do you want with him?" Eve's gaze focused and she set her jaw.
“Not one thing," Lilith said and turned to leave. That Eve deserves Adam, Lilith thought. “Not
one word of gratitude from her. Serves them both right."
Lilith trekked towards her own territory. If she hurried, she could be there by the next morning.
She hadn’t gotten very far when she heard branches cracking and Eve’s heavy footfall approach.
“Wait," Eve called. “I’m not as fast as you are."
“Nor as quiet," Lilith replied as she stopped and turned to wait. “You’ll get us both eaten if you
carry on like that. What do you want?"
Eve came into view, breathless and supporting her swollen abdomen with her otherwise empty hands. “I don’t think I can carry the food back to our camp by myself. Adam felt certain I could do it, but
he’s wrong. Would you help me?"
Eve’s soft brown eyes reminded Lilith of a fawn that shared her gentle river, and Lilith’s heart swelled.
Tiny frail Eve, soon to birth, had been sent on a quest beyond her capabilities and although she could try,
Lilith saw Eve’s weakness, as she knew that Eve did not. Her large and unbalanced middle made her fair game
for the wild beasts that roamed the forest. Eve’s mission was a sign of Adam’s continuing sense of superiority
and command. How better to retain control over this woman than to show her exactly what she could not
accomplish?
Adam’s a bastard, Lilith thought, but she said, “I will help you."
The two women retraced their steps in silence. Eve led the way and turned back to look at Lilith often.
An uncomfortable smile played around her lips. Lilith could have ridiculed Eve for playing such a fool, for
allowing that lug to treat her the way that he did, but Lilith didn’t. She just whispered thanks that she had
not conceived too, and found herself as clumsy, cumbersome and helpless as Eve. How would she have
survived?
They stopped at the tree where they’d met and Lilith hoisted the doe's body over her shoulder. “Let’s
go," she said. “I’ll take you near your camp, but not into it. I don’t want to see your mate. I don’t want to
cause you any trouble."
“Anything you could do would be great," Eve replied. “But hold on a minute." She scrounged among
her pelts and extracted a gourd that hung from her hip. She removed a shaped stopper from its mouth, tipped
the gourd to her lips and swallowed several times, then offered the gourd to Lilith.
Lilith took it and offered thanks before swigging off the gourd herself. She handed it back to Eve, and
then followed her towards the camp.
Eve’s trail brought them through a valley carved by a fast moving stream that wound from the sunrise to
the sunset. Near the far end of the valley, boulders had been gathered and stacked against a rock face. Palm
fronds and Banana leaves lay over the top, interwoven together to provide shade. A man bent over a circle of
stones, blowing embers into flames.
“That looks like Adam, “Lilith said. She dropped her load and faced Eve. “Can you get it from here?"
Eve looked nervously at Adam and replied, “I think so. Or I can get him to come and get it."
“You realize, Eve, that you will have lied to your husband." Lilith spoke deliberately, allowing some space
around each word for impact. “I mean, if you let him think you brought it here all by yourself…"
Eve furrowed her brow and looked at the small doe crumpled on the dirt. “That’s true. I’m going to get
him."
Lilith continued, “But if you tell him that I helped you, he’s going to be angry. You didn’t do as you
were told." She cupped her chin between her index finger and thumb, and then she slowly smiled while Eve’s
face turned red. “What can you do?"
“I don’t know." Eve lifted her face to meet Lilith’s smirk. “What can I do?"
Lilith placed her hand on Eve’s shoulder. She stared straight into Eve’s face and the light bounced in
her eyes when she whispered, “Do what you need to do to keep the peace in your home." She patted Eve
twice, gave her a peck on the cheek, and left.
Eve turned to bid farewell, but Lilith was gone. Not even the leaves or grasses swayed to show that she
had been there. Lilith peeked from behind a tree, Eve searched for her. Lilith’s smile spread. She knew just
how quiet she could be, and now she'd put ideas in another's mind. Lilith was happy.
Eve called to Adam and he turned to monitor her return. He crossed his arms over his chest when Eve struggled to pick up her burden. He shook his head as she staggered back to their camp.
Lilith leaned into the tree trunk, sucked on a tooth and pursed her lips.