The stars were emerging in the twilight. Camp was deserted. Women, if you could yet name them such, were bathing infants at the river. The men had gone to strip a nearby mammoth carcass.

Eve, as scientists would christen her, remained behind by arrangement with her lover. He would answer for his absence from the hunt later.

She lay down and opened her legs. The idea of shaving those legs would have seemed ridiculous in the chilly night. He entered her, pumping enthusiastically. She came with a cry.

The seed of human civilisation was sown in her belly that night.