I was still young then, and my heart beat
faster for some time, he was not at all surprised by the
story that our tenant from Wolf Cub Village told us the
other day about eating a man's heart and liver, but kept
nodding his head. He is evidently just as cruel as before.
Since it is possible to "exchange sons to eat,"
then anything can be exchanged, anyone can be eaten. In
the past I simply listened to his explanations, and let
it go at that; now I know that when he explained it to me,
not only was there human fat at the corner of his lips,
but his whole heart was set on eating men.
VI
Pitch dark. I don't know whether it is day or night. The
Chao family dog has started barking again.
The fierceness of a lion, the timidity of
a rabbit, the craftiness of a fox. . . .
VII
I know their way; they are not willing to kill anyone outright,
nor do they dare, for fear of the consequences. Instead
they have banded together and set traps everywhere, to force
me to kill myself. The behaviour of the men and women in
the street a few days ago, and my elder brother's attitude
these last few days, make it quite obvious. What they like
best is for a man to take off his belt, and hang himself
from a beam; for then they can enjoy their heart's desire
without being blamed for murder. Naturally that sets them
roaring with delighted laughter. On the other hand, if a
man is frightened or worried to death, although that makes
him rather thin, they still nod in approval.
They only eat dead flesh! I remember reading
somewhere of a hideous beast, with an ugly look in its eye,
called "hyena" which often eats dead flesh. Even
the largest bones it grinds into fragments and swallows:
the mere thought of this is enough to terrify one. Hyenas
are related to wolves, and wolves belong to the canine species.
The other day the dog in the Chao house looked at me several
times; obviously it is in the plot too and has become their
accomplice. The old man's eyes were cast down, but that
did not deceive me!
The most deplorable is my elder brother.
He is also a man, so why is he not afraid, why is he plotting
with others to eat me? Is it that when one is used to it
he no longer thinks it a crime? Or is it that he has hardened
his heart to do something he knows is wrong?
In cursing man-eaters, I shall start with
my brother, and in dissuading man-eaters, I shall start
with him too.
