209.Chapter Eighteen（10）

thewhipwashangingonanailbythedoor，readytohandagainstthearrivalofreporters。***inafrenzythesavageranbacktothehouse，seizedit，whirledit。theknottedcordsbitintohisflesh。

「strumpet！strumpet！」heshoutedateveryblowasthoughitwerelenina（andhowfrantically，withoutknowingit，hewisheditwere），white，warm，scented，infamousleninathathewasdoggingthus。「strumpet！」andthen，inavoiceofdespair，「oh，linda，forgiveme。forgiveme，god。i』mbad。i』mwicked。i』m…no，no，youstrumpet，youstrumpet！」

fromhiscarefullyconstructedhideinthewoodthreehundredmetresaway，darwinbonaparte，thefeelycorporation』smostexpertbiggamephotographerhadwatchedthewholeproceedings。patienceandskillhadbeenrewarded。hehadspentthreedayssittinginsidetheboleofanartificialoaktree，threenightscrawlingonhisbellythroughtheheather，hidingmicrophonesingorsebushes，buryingwiresinthesoftgreysand。seventy-twohoursofprofounddiscomfort。butnowthegreatmomenthadcome–thegreatest，darwinbonapartehadtimetoreflect，ashemovedamonghisinstruments，thegreatestsincehistakingofthefamousall-howlingstereoscopicfeelyofthegorillas』wedding。「splendid，」hesaidtohimself，asthesavagestartedhisastonishingperformance。「splendid！」hekepthistelescopiccamerascarefullyaimed–gluedtotheirmovingobjective；clappedonahigherpowertogetaclose-upofthefranticanddistortedface（admirable！）；switchedover，forhalfaminute，toslowmotion（anexquisitelycomicaleffect，hepromisedhimself）；listenedin，meanwhile，totheblows，thegroans，thewildandravingwordsthatwerebeingrecordedonthesound-trackattheedgeofhisfilm，triedtheeffectofalittleamplification（yes，thatwasdecidedlybetter）；wasdelightedtohear，inamomentarylull，theshrillsingingofalark；wishedthesavagewouldturnroundsothathecouldgetagoodclose-upofthebloodonhisback–andalmostinstantly（whatastonishingluck！）theaccommodatingfellowdidturnround，andhewasabletotakeaperfectclose-up。