by Jean M. Auel
“I think that’s a wise decision, Ayla,” the First said. “I will tell you it’s another ceiling, but on this one, the mammoths are painted in red. It will be better to see it with fresh eyes. But I do think we should have a bite to eat and I need to pass water.”
Jondalar breathed a sigh of relief, took off his backframe, and found a darkened corner for himself. He had been sipping on his small waterbag all day, and he felt a need to relieve himself, too. He would have gone in the new passage if the women had wanted to go, he thought as he stood hearing his stream on the stone, but he was tired of the marvelous sights of this cave for now, and tired of walking, and just wanted to get out. He didn’t even care if they ate right now.
There was a small cup of cold soup waiting for him, and a bone with some meat on it. Wolf was working his way through a small pile of cut-up meat, too. “I think we can chew on the meat as we walk,” Ayla said, “but save the bones for Wolf. I’m sure he’d like to gnaw on them while he’s resting by a fire.”
“We’d all like a fireplace about now,” Zelandoni said. “I think we should also put the lamps away when they run out of fat, and use these torches for the rest of the way out.” She had a fresh torch ready for each of them.
Jondalar was the first to light his as they walked by the other passage opening out on their left, across from the first painted mammoth they had seen.
“This is the place where you turn in to see the children’s fingermarks, and there are other kinds of interesting things on the walls and ceilings, deep in that passageway and its several turnoffs,” Zelandoni commented. “No one knows what they mean, though many have made guesses. Many are painted in red, but it’s a bit of a walk from here.”
Not long afterward, both Ayla and Zelandoni lit their torches. Ahead, where the tunnel split, they took the right-hand path, and Ayla thought she could see the hint of light ahead. When it angled farther to the right, she was sure, but it wasn’t bright light, and when they finally walked out of the cave, the sun was setting. They had spent the entire day walking in the great cavern.
Jondalar stacked wood in the pit to light with his torch. Ayla dropped her haversack on the ground near the firepit, and whistled for the horses. She heard a distant whinny, and started in that direction.
“Leave the baby with me,” Zelandoni said. “You’ve been carrying her all day. You both need a rest.”
Ayla put the blanket down on the grass, and put Jonayla on it. She seemed glad to kick her feet in freedom, as her mother whistled again and ran toward the answering sounds of horses. She always worried when she was gone from them for some time.
They slept late the next morning, and didn’t feel any particular rush to continue their travels, but by midmorning, they were getting restless and anxious to go. Jondalar and Zelandoni discussed what would be the best way to get to the Fifth Cave.
“It’s east of here, maybe two days’ travel, or three if we take our time. I think if we just headed in that direction, we’d get there,” Jondalar said.
“That’s true, but I think we are also a little north, and if we just go east, we’ll have to cross both North River and The River,” Zelandoni said. She picked up a stick and started drawing lines on the ground where it was bare. “If we start out going east but somewhat south, we can reach Summer Camp of the Twenty-ninth Cave before nightfall and stay with them tonight. North River joins The River near South Face of the Twenty-Ninth Cave. We can cross The River at the ford between Summer Camp and South Face and have only one river to cross. The River is bigger there, but shallow, and then we can go on toward Reflection Rock and to the Fifth Cave the way we did last year.”
Jondalar studied her scratchings on the ground, and while he was looking at them, Zelandoni added another comment. “The trail is fairly well blazed on the trees between here and Summer Camp, and there’s a path on the ground the rest of the way.”
Jondalar realized that he had been thinking about traveling the way he and Ayla did on their Journey. On horseback, with the bowl boat attached to the end of the travois to float their things across streams, they didn’t need to concern themselves much about crossing any but the biggest of rivers. But with the First sitting on the pole-drag Whinney was pulling, it wasn’t likely to float, and neither was the one Racer was dragging with all their supplies. Besides, it would be easier to find their way with blazed trails.
“You are right, Zelandoni,” he said. “It might not be quite as direct, but your way would make it easier, and likely get us there just as fast or faster.”
The trail blazes weren’t quite as easy to follow as the First had remembered. It seemed that people hadn’t been that way very often lately, but they renewed some of them as they went along so the trail would be easier for the next person to use. It was nearing sunset when they reached the home of Summer Camp, also known as the West Holding of the Twenty-ninth Cave, which was sometimes known as Three Rocks, meaning three separate locations.
The Twenty-ninth Cave had a particularly interesting and complex social arrangement. They once had been three separate Caves that lived in three different shelters that looked out on the same rich expanse of grassland. Reflection Rock faced north, which would have been a major disadvantage except that what it had to offer more than compensated for its north face. It was a huge cliff, a half mile long, two hundred sixty feet high, with five levels of shelters and a vast potential for observing the surrounding landscape and the animals that migrated through it. And it was a spectacular sight that most people looked upon with awe.
The Cave called South Face was just that: a two-story shelter facing south, situated to get the best of the sunlight in summer and winter, high enough up to get a good view of the open plain. The final Cave was Summer Camp, which was on the west end of the plain and offered among other things a wealth of hazelnuts, which many of the people from the other Caves went to pick in late summer. It was also the one with the closest proximity to a small Sacred Cave, which was called by the people who lived in the vicinity simply Forest Hollow.
Since all three Caves utilized essentially the same hunting and gathering areas, hard feelings were developing, leading to fights. It wasn’t that the area couldn’t support all three groups—it was not only rich in itself, it was a major migration route—but often two or more gathering groups or hunting parties from different Caves went after the same things at the same time. Two uncoordinated hunts trying for the same migrating small herd interfered with the plans of both, and had been known to chase away the animals, with neither group getting a kill. If all three groups went after them independently, it was worse. All the Zelandonii Caves in the region were being pulled into the disagreements, one way or another, and finally, at the urging of all their neighbors, and after difficult negotiations, the three separate Caves decided to join together and become one Cave in three locations, and to work together to mutually harvest the plenty of their rich plain. Though there were still occasional differences, the unusual arrangement seemed to be working.
Because the Summer Meeting was still going on, not many people were at the West Holding of the Twenty-ninth Cave. Most of those who stayed back were old, or sick, and unable to make the trip, plus the ones who stayed to care for them. In rare cases, someone who was working on something that couldn’t be interrupted or could only be done in summer also stayed. Those who were at West Holding welcomed the travelers enthusiastically. They seldom had visitors this early in the summer and since they were coming from the Summer Meeting, they could bring news. In addition, the visitors themselves made news wherever they went: Jondalar, the returned traveler, and his foreign woman and her baby, and the wolf and horses, and the First Among Those Who Served The Great Earth Mother. The travelers were especially welcomed by those who were ill or failing, because of who they were: healers, and at least one who was acknowledged as among the best of their people.
The Ninth Cave had always had a particularly good relationship with the people of Three Rocks who lived at the place
called Summer Camp. Jondalar recalled going there when he was a boy to help harvest the nuts that grew so abundantly in their vicinity. Whoever was invited to help harvest always got a share of the nuts, and they didn’t invite everyone, but they always invited the other two Caves of Three Rocks, and the Ninth Cave.
A young woman with light blond hair and pale skin stepped out of a dwelling that was under the abri and looked at them with surprise. “What are you doing here?” she said, then caught herself. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be so rude. It’s just such a surprise to see you here. I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
Ayla thought she looked sad and drawn; a darkness circled her eyes.
Zelandoni knew it was the Acolyte to the Zelandoni of the West Holding of the Twenty-ninth Cave. “Don’t be sorry,” said the First. “I know we caught you by surprise. I am taking Ayla on her first Donier Tour. Let me introduce you.” The First went through an abbreviated version of a formal introduction, then said, “I’m wondering why an acolyte would stay behind. Is someone especially sick here?”
“Perhaps no more than others here who are close to the Next World, but she’s my mother,” the Acolyte said. Zelandoni nodded with understanding.
“If you like, we can take a look at her,” the One Who Was First said.
“I’d be grateful if you would, but I didn’t want to ask. My Zelandoni seemed to help her when she was here, and she did give me some instructions, but mother seems to have gotten worse. She’s much more uncomfortable, but I can’t seem to help her,” the young acolyte said.
Ayla remembered meeting the Zelandoni of Summer Camp the year before. Since each one of the Caves of Three Rocks had a Zelandoni who lived with them, it had been concluded that if all three had a deciding voice at the meetings of the zelandonia, it would give the Twenty-ninth Cave too much influence. Therefore, a fourth Donier was chosen to represent the entire group, but she functioned more as a mediator, not only between the three other Zelandonii, but also between the three separate leaders, and it took much time and a great deal of skill with people. The other three Doniers were called colleagues. Ayla remembered the Zelandoni of Summer Camp as a middle-aged woman, nearly as fat as the One Who Was First, but rather than tall, she was quite short and seemed warm and motherly. Her title was Complementary Zelandoni of the West Holding of the Twenty-ninth Cave, although she was a full Zelandoni, and accorded the complete respect and status of her position.
The young acolyte seemed relieved to have someone else look at her mother, especially someone of such prominence and knowledge, but seeing that Jondalar was just beginning to unpack the things from the pole-drag, and Ayla’s baby, who was riding her back, seemed to be getting fussy, she said, “You should get yourselves settled in first.”
They greeted everyone who was there, put down their sleeping rolls, settled the horses to a good open space of fresh grass, and got Wolf acquainted with the people, or rather, the people familiar with him. Then Zelandoni and Ayla approached the young acolyte.
“What is it that is troubling your mother?” Zelandoni asked.
“I’m not entirely sure. She complains about stomachaches or cramps, and lately she has no appetite,” the young woman said. “I can see that she’s getting thin, and now she doesn’t want to get out of bed. I am very worried.”
“That’s understandable,” Zelandoni said. “Do you want to come with me to see her, Ayla?”
“Yes, but let me ask Jondalar to watch Jonayla first. I just nursed her, so she should be fine.”
She took the baby to Jondalar, who was talking to an older man who didn’t seem weak or ill. Ayla supposed he was there on behalf of someone else, like the young acolyte. Jondalar was delighted to look after Jonayla, smiling as he reached for her. Jonayla smiled back; she liked being with him.
Ayla returned to the place where the other two women waited and followed them into a dwelling, similar to the ones made by the Ninth Cave, but this one was much smaller than most of those she had seen. It seemed made to house only the woman who occupied the sleeping place within. It wasn’t much bigger than the bed, just a small space around it and a small storage and cooking area. Zelandoni alone seemed to fill it, with very little extra room for the two younger women.
“Mother. Mother!” the acolyte said. “There are some people here to see you.”
The woman moaned and opened her eyes, and then opened them wider when she saw the large figure of the First.
“Shevola?” she said with a raspy voice.
“I’m here, mother,” the acolyte said.
“Why is the First here? Did you send for her?”
“No, mother. She just happened to stop by and said she’d look in on you. Ayla is here, too,” Shevola said.
“Ayla? Isn’t she Jondalar’s foreign woman with the animals?”
“Yes, mother. She brought them with her. If you feel up to it later, you can go out and see them.”
“What is your mother’s name, Acolyte of the West Holding of the Twenty-ninth Cave?” Zelandoni asked.
“Vashona of Summer Camp, the West Holding of the Twenty-ninth Cave. She was born at Reflection Rock before Three Rocks joined together,” the young woman explained, then felt slightly embarrassed, aware that she didn’t need to go through so much explanation. This wasn’t a formal introduction.
“Would you mind if Ayla examined you, Vashona?” the First asked. “She is a skilled healer. We may not be able to help you, but we’d like to try.”
“No,” the woman said softly, and it seemed with some hesitation. “I wouldn’t mind.”
Ayla was a little surprised that the First wanted her to look at the woman. Then it occurred to her that the space inside the dwelling was so cramped, the large woman might have some difficulty getting down to the bedside. She knelt down and looked at the woman. “Are you feeling pain now?” she asked.
Both Vashona and her daughter suddenly became aware of Ayla’s unusual way of speaking, her exotic accent.
“Yes.”
“Will you show me where it is?”
“It’s hard to say. Inside.”
“Higher up or lower down?”
“All over.”
“May I touch you?”
The woman looked at her daughter, who looked at Zelandoni. “She does need to examine her,” the First said.
Vashona nodded agreement and Ayla pulled down the cover and opened her clothing, exposing her stomach. She noted immediately that the woman was bloated. She pressed down on her stomach, starting at the top and working her way down over the rounded bulge. Vashona winced, but didn’t cry out. Ayla felt her forehead and around the back of her ears, then bent closer and smelled her breath. Then she sat back on her heels and looked thoughtful.
“Do you get a burning pain in your chest, especially after you eat?” Ayla asked.
“Yes,” the woman replied, with a questioning look.
“And does air come out of your mouth with a loud noise in the throat, like when you burp a baby?”
“Yes, but many people belch,” Vashona said.
“That’s true, but have you spit up blood, too?” Ayla asked.
Vashona frowned. “Sometimes,” she said.
“Have you noticed blood or a dark sticky mass in your excrement?”
“Yes,” the woman said, almost in a whisper. “More lately. How did you know?”
“She knows from her examination of you,” Zelandoni interjected.
“What did you do for your pain?” Ayla asked.
“I did what everybody does for pain. I drank willow-bark tea,” Vashona said.
“And do you also drink a lot of peppermint tea?” Ayla said.
Both Vashona and Shevola, her acolyte daughter, looked at the stranger with surprise. “It’s her favorite tea,” Shevola said.
“Licorice root or anise tea would be better,” Ayla said, “and no more willow bark, either, for now. Some people think that since everybody uses it, it can’t hurt you. But too much can. It is a medici
ne, but it’s not good for everything, and should not be used too frequently.”
“Can you help her?” the acolyte asked.
“I think so. I believe I know what is wrong. It’s serious, but there are things that can help. I must tell you, though,” Ayla added, “that it could be something even more serious that is much harder to treat, although we can at least relieve some of her pain.”
Ayla caught the eye of Zelandoni, who was nodding slightly with a knowing expression on her face.
“What would you suggest for treatment, Ayla?” she asked.
Ayla looked thoughtful for a moment, then said, “Anise or licorice root to settle the stomach. I have some dried in my medicine bag. And I think I have dried sweet flag—although it is so sweet it’s almost bitter—which can stop cramping spasms, and there are plenty of dandelions around to cleanse her blood and help her insides work better. I just picked some cleavers, which can purge her body of residues of wastes, and a decoction of the woodruff I just gathered is good for stomachs, can help her feel better all over, and tastes good. I may be able to find more of those wood avens rootlets I used for flavoring the other evening. They’re especially good for stomach disorders. But what I’d really like to have is celandine; that would be most helpful. It’s a good treatment for either one of her possible problems, especially the more serious one.”
The young woman looked at Ayla with awe. The First knew she wasn’t Summer Camp’s Zelandoni’s First Acolyte. She was still new to the zelandonia and had much to learn. And Ayla could still surprise even the First with the depth of her knowledge. She turned to the young acolyte.
“Perhaps you could assist Ayla with the preparation of your mother’s medicine. It will be a way for you to learn how to make it after we leave,” Zelandoni said.
“Oh, yes. I’d like to help,” the young woman said, then looked at her mother with tenderness in her eyes. “I think this medicine will make you feel much better, mother.”
