by Jean M. Auel
The river there was wide and shallow, and would have been fordable in any case, but someone had made the crossing even easier. Piles of rock and gravel, and some bone, had been placed and spread out in the manner of stepping-stones to make a pathway for people to cross the river, while diverting the flow of water to the spaces in between.
Jondalar paused to look more closely. “What a clever idea!” he remarked. “You could cross the river here without even getting your feet wet.”
“The best places to put lodges are on that side—those deep hollows give good protection from the wind—but the best hunting is on this side,” Barzec explained. “This walkway washes out with the floods, but Wolf Camp builds a new one every year. They seem to have gone to extra trouble this year, probably to make it easier for visitors.”
Talut started across. Ayla noticed Whinney was extremely agitated, and thought the horse was nervous about the stepping-stone path with the watery spaces in between, but the mare followed her without incident.
The headman paused more than halfway over. “Right here, it’s good fishing,” he said. “The current runs fast, so it’s deep Salmon come up this far. Sturgeon, too. And other fish, pike, trout, catfish.” He directed his comments at Ayla and Jondalar in particular, though he included any of the youngsters who had not been there before. It had been some years since Lion Camp had visited Wolf Camp as a group.
On the other side, as Talut led them toward a wide ravine, perhaps a half-mile across at the top, Ayla heard a strange sound, like a loud hum or a muted roar. They gradually climbed uphill. Sixty feet or so above the level of the river and one hundred and fifty yards back, they came to the bottom of the large ravine. Ayla looked ahead, and gasped. Protected by steep walls, a half-dozen separate round lodges in a row were comfortably settled within the nearly mile-long hollow. But it wasn’t the round earthlodges that made Ayla gasp.
It was the people. In all her life, Ayla had never seen so many people. Well over a thousand human souls, more than thirty Camps, had gathered together for the Mamutoi Summer Meeting. The length and breadth of the entire area was filled with tents. There were at least four or five times as many people as had come together for the Clan Gathering—and everyone was staring at her.
Or rather, at her horses and Wolf. The young canine cowered against her leg, just as thunderstruck as she. She sensed panic in Whinney and was sure Racer felt the same. Fear for them helped her overcome her own feelings of sheer terror at the sight of so many human beings. She looked up and saw Jondalar hanging on the lead rope, struggling to keep Racer from rearing, while the frightened boy hung on tight.
“Nezzie, get Rydag!” she called out. The woman had already seen the problem and hardly needed Ayla’s words to impel her to move. Ayla helped Mamut down, and put her arm around the mare’s neck, leading her toward the young stallion to help calm him. The wolf followed after her.
“I’m sorry, Ayla. I should have thought about how the horses would react to so many people,” Jondalar said.
“You knew there would be this many?”
“I … didn’t know, but I guessed there might be about as many as would come to a Zelandonii Summer Meeting.”
“I think we should try to set up Cattail Camp someplace out of the way,” Tulie said, speaking up to get everyone’s attention. “Maybe here, near the edge of the encampment. We’ll be farther away from everything”—she was looking around as she spoke—“but Wolf Camp has a creek running through their hollow this year, and it turns this way.”
Tulie had been anticipating the reaction of the people, and she hadn’t been disappointed. They had been seen crossing the river, and everyone there had crowded close to watch the arrival of the Lion Camp. But she had not anticipated that the animals might be overwhelmed by their initial introduction to a herd of humanity.
“How about over there, near the wall,” Barzec suggested. “It’s not too level, but we can even it out.”
“It looks fine to me. Are there any objections?” Talut said, looking pointedly at Ayla. She and Jondalar just led the animals that way, wanting to get them settled. The Lion Camp began clearing out rocks and brush and leveling a place to set up their large, double-skinned, communal tent.
Living in a tent was made much more comfortable by using two layers of hides. The insulating layer of air between helped to keep the warmth in, and moisture condensing in the cool of the evening ran down the inner side of the outer hides to the ground. The inner hides, which were tucked under the interior ground cloths, kept drafts out as well. Though not nearly as permanent as the earthlodge at Lion Camp, it was a more substantial structure than the single-wall overnight shelter that was only a part of the full summer tent, which they used when traveling. They referred to their summer home as Cattail Camp to differentiate the summer location, wherever it happened to be, from the winter site, when they spoke of it, though they still thought of themselves as belonging to a group called Lion Camp.
The tent was divided into four interdependent conical sections, each with a separate fireplace, supported by sturdy, flexible young trees, although mammoth rib bones, or other long bones, could have and had been used. The central section, which was largest, would house the Lion Hearth, the Fox Hearth, and the Mammoth Hearth. While the tent lodge was not as roomy as the earthlodge, it would be used primarily for sleeping, and it was seldom that everyone would be in the tent sleeping at the same time. Other activities, private, social, and public, would take place outdoors, so setting up also meant defining territory beyond the walls of the tent. The placement of Cattail Hearth, the main exterior cooking hearth, was a matter of some importance.
While they worked to set up their tent and stake out their territory, the rest of the people at the Meeting began to recover from their initial stunned silence, and began to talk excitedly among themselves. Ayla finally discovered the source of the peculiar muted roar. She recalled, when she first arrived at Lion Camp, how noisy she thought it was when everybody spoke at once. This was that noise many times over; it was the combined voices of the entire throng.
No wonder Whinney and Racer were so skittish, Ayla thought. The constant hum of humanity made her skittish, too. She wasn’t used to it. The Clan Gathering had not been as big, but even if it had, it would never have been as noisy. They used few words to communicate; a gathering of the people of the Clan was quiet. But with people who used verbal speech, except for rare occasions, it was always noisy within an encampment. Like the wind on the steppes, the voices never ceased, they only varied in intensity.
Many people hurried to greet the Lion Camp, offering to help set up and arrange their place, and were greeted warmly, but Talut and Tulie passed several meaningful glances between themselves. They didn’t remember having so many friends who were so willing to help before. With the help of Latie, Jondalar, and Ranec, and for a while, Talut, Ayla set up a place for the horses. The two young men worked together easily, but spoke little. She turned down offers of help from the curious, explaining that the horses were shy and strangers would make them nervous. But that only made it obvious that she was the one in control of the animals, and engendered more curiosity. Word of her spread quickly.
At the farthest edge of the encampment, slightly around a curve of the wall of the ravine that opened onto the river valley, they constructed an awninglike lean-to, utilizing the hide tent she and Jondalar had used when they traveled together, supported by small trees and sturdy branches. It was somewhat hidden from the sight of the people camped in the hollow, but the view of the river and the beautiful wooded meadows across was expansive.
They were moving in and setting up places to sleep in the somewhat more crowded quarters when a delegation from Wolf Camp, along with several others, came to welcome them officially. They were in the host Camp’s territory, and though it was expected, it was more than courtesy to extend to all visitors the use of the Wolf Camp’s hereditary fishing weirs, berry, nut, seed, and root beds, and hunting grounds. Even though the
Summer Meeting would not last the entire season, hosting such a large group would take its toll, and it was necessary to find out if some particular area should be avoided so as not to overtax the resources in the region.
Talut had been quite surprised when told of the change in the location of the Summer Meeting. The Mamutoi didn’t, as a rule, meet at a home Camp. Usually they chose some location that was out on the steppes or in some large river valley that could accommodate such concentrations of people more easily.
“In the name of the Great Mother of all, the Lion Camp is welcome,” a thin, gray-haired woman said.
Tulie was shocked to see her. She had been a woman of uncommon grace and robust health, who had shouldered the responsibility of her co-leadership with ease, but she seemed to have aged ten years in the last season. “Marlie, we appreciate your hospitality. In the name of Mut, we thank you.”
“I see you have done it again,” a man said, grasping both of Talut’s hands in greeting.
Valez was younger than his sister, but for the first time, Tulie noticed that he also showed signs of age. It made her suddenly aware of her own mortality. She had always thought Marlie and Valez were close to her in age.
“But I think this is your biggest surprise,” Valez continued. “When Toran came running in, shouting something about horses walking across the river with you, everyone had to go and look. And then someone spied the wolf …”
“We won’t ask you to tell us about them now,” Marlie said, “though I must admit I am curious. You’ll just have to repeat it again too many times. We might as well wait until this evening so you can tell everyone at once.”
“Marlie is right, of course,” Valez said, though he had been ready to hear the story right then. He also noticed that his sister seemed especially tired. He feared this would be her last Summer Meeting. That was why he had agreed to host it when the place that had originally been selected was washed out by a change in the course of the river. They would be handing over their co-leadership this season.
“Please make use of whatever you need. Are you settled in comfortably? I’m sorry you have to be so far away, but you are late. I wasn’t even sure that you were coming,” Marlie said.
“We took a roundabout way,” Talut agreed. “But this is the best place. It’s better for the animals. They aren’t used to so many people.”
“I’d like to know how they got used to one!” a voice called out. Tulie’s eyes lit up as a tall young man approached, but Deegie got to him first.
“Tarneg! Tarneg!” she cried out as she rushed to embrace him. The rest of the Aurochs Hearth was not far behind her. He hugged his mother, and then Barzec, and all had tears in their eyes. Then Druwez, Brinan, and Tusie clamored for his attention. He put his arms around the shoulders of both boys, hugged them and told them how much they had grown, and then picked up Tusie. After a mutual hug and a tickle which produced delighted giggles, Tarneg put her down.
“Tarneg!” Talut boomed.
“Talut, you old bear!” Tarneg returned in a voice as powerful as the two men hugged. There was a strong family resemblance—he was nearly as much a bear as his uncle—but Tarneg had his mother’s darker coloring. He bent down to rub Nezzie’s cheek with his, then with a mischievous grin, he put his arms around the rotund woman and picked her up.
“Tarneg! What are you doing? Put me down,” she scolded.
He set her lightly down on her feet, then winked at her. “Now I know I’m as good a man as you, Talut,” Tarneg said, and laughed out loud. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to do that? Just to prove I could?”
“It is not necessary to …” Nezzie began.
Talut threw back his head and roared with laughter. “It takes more than that, young man. When you can match me in the furs, you’ll be as good a man as I am.”
Nezzie gave up trying to scold her dignity back, and just looked at her great bear of a man, shaking her head with exasperated fondness. “What is it about Summer Meeting that makes old men want to prove they are young again?” she said. “Well, at least it gives me a rest.” She caught Ayla’s interested look.
“I wouldn’t put a wager on that!” Talut said. “I’m not so old that I can’t still clear the way to the lioness of my hearth just because I’m shoveling other drifts.”
“Hmmmf,” Nezzie shrugged, turning away, disdaining to reply.
Ayla was standing near both horses, and keeping the wolf close by so he wouldn’t growl and frighten people, but she had been watching the entire scene with intense interest, including the reactions of the people around. Danug and Druwez looked slightly embarrassed. Though they’d had no experience, yet, they did know what subject was being discussed, and it had been very much on their minds. Tarneg and Barzec were grinning from ear to ear. Latie was blushing and trying to hide behind Tulie, who looked on as though all this foolishness was beneath her. Most people were smiling benignly, even Jondalar, Ayla noticed, which surprised her. She had wondered if the reasons for his actions toward her had something to do with customs that were very different. Perhaps, unlike the Mamutoi, the Zelandonii did not believe people had the right to choose their own partners, but he did not seem disapproving.
As Nezzie passed her on the way into the tent, Ayla noticed a knowing little smile playing across her mouth, too. “Happens every year,” she said in a half-whisper. “He’s got to make a big scene, tell everyone what a man he is, and the first few days, even find another ‘drift’ or two—although she always looks like me, blond and plump. Then, when he thinks no one is noticing any more, he’s happy enough to spend most of his nights at Cattail Camp—and not so happy if I’m not there.”
“Where do you go?”
“Who can tell? With a Meeting this size, even though you know everyone, or at least every Camp, you don’t know everyone well. Each year there is someone to get to know better. Though I admit, often enough it’s another woman with growing children and a new way to season mammoth. Sometimes a man catches my eye, or I catch his, but I don’t need to make a big scene about it. It’s all right for Talut to brag, but if the truth were known, I don’t think he would like it if I bragged.”
“So you don’t,” Ayla said.
“It’s a small enough thing to do to preserve harmony and good will at the hearth … and, well, to please him.”
“You really love him, don’t you?”
“That old bear!” Nezzie started to object, then smiled and the softness crept into her eyes. “We had our times, in the beginning—you know how loud he can be—but I never did let him get the best of me, or shout me down. I think that’s what he likes about me. Talut could break a man in half, if he wanted to, but that’s not his way. He can get angry sometimes, but there is no cruelty in him. He would never hurt someone weaker than he is—and that’s almost everyone! Yes, I love him, and when you love a man, you want to do things to please him.”
“Would you … not go with another man who caught your eye, even if you wanted to, if it would please him?”
“At my age, that wouldn’t be hard, Ayla. In fact, if the truth were known, I don’t have a lot to brag about. When I was younger, I still looked forward to Summer Meeting for some new faces and some playful games, and even a turn in the furs once in a while, but I think Talut is right about one thing. There aren’t many men who can match him. Not because of all the drifts’ he can shovel, but because he cares how he does it.”
Ayla nodded with understanding. Then she frowned, thinking. What do you do if there are two men, and each of them cares?
“Jondalar!”
Ayla looked up when she heard the strange voice call his name. She saw him smile and stride toward a woman and greet her warmly.
“So you are still with the Mamutoi! Where’s your brother?” the woman said. She was a powerful-looking woman, not tall, but muscular.
Jondalar’s forehead knotted in pain. Ayla could see from the woman’s expression that she knew.
“How did it happen?”
The woman nodded sympathetically. “You say you were wounded? How did you get away?”
Jondalar looked toward Ayla, and saw that she had been watching them. He led the woman toward her. “Ayla this is Brecie of the Mamutoi, headwoman of Willow Camp … or rather Elk Camp. Talut said that’s the name of your winter Camp. This is Ayla of the Mamutoi, daughter of the Mammoth Hearth of Lion Camp.”
Brecie was taken aback. Daughter of the Mammoth Hearth! Where did she come from? She wasn’t with Lion Camp last year. Ayla was not even a Mamutoi name.
“Brecie,” Ayla said. “Jondalar told me about you. You are the one who saved him and his brother from the sinking sands of Great Mother River, and you are Tulie’s friend. I am pleased to meet you.”
That is certainly not a Mamutoi accent, and it’s not Sungaea, Brecie thought. It’s not Jondalar’s accent, either. I’m not sure it’s an accent at all. She really speaks Mamutoi very well, but she has a peculiar way of swallowing some words. “I am pleased to meet you … Ayla, did you say?” Brecie asked.
“Yes, Ayla.”
“That’s an unusual name.” When no explanation was forthcoming, Brecie continued, “You seem to be the one who is uh … watching these … animals.” It occurred to her that she had never been quite so close to a living animal, at least one who was standing still and not trying to run away.
“That’s because they answer to her,” Jondalar volunteered with a smile.
“But didn’t I see you with one of them? I will admit, you caught me by surprise, Jondalar. In those clothes, for a moment, I thought you were Darnev, and when you were leading a horse, I thought either I was imagining things, or that Darnev had returned from the spirit world.”
“I am learning about these animals from Ayla,” Jondalar said. “She’s the one who saved me from the cave lion, too. Believe me, she has a way with animals.”
“That seems obvious,” Brecie said, this time looking down at Wolf, who was not as nervous, though his alert attention seemed more menacing. “Is that why she was adopted by the Mammoth Hearth?”
