Many thanks, guys, for pulling me out of the Black Mammoth hole here. Bittersweet is an extraordinary vine seen here in central Virginia. It is not only visually pleasing when growing, but, if you cut a bit, the berries will dry up and stay on the vine throughout the winter.

I wonder whether our own bittersweet is related to the kind this Gene Wolfe had in mind...? And I'll bet Gene Wolfe probably knows that the babirussa's insides are similar to that of a hippopotamus!

Beast regards,
WW