have much room, many empty beds, Deegie. You stay at Mammoth Hearth with Branag? He is visitor, too … if Mamut not mind. Is hearth of Mamut.”
“His first woman was the mother of my grandmother. I’ve slept at his hearth many times. Mamut won’t mind, will you?” Deegie asked, seeing him.
“Of course, you and Branag can stay, Deegie,” the old man said, “but remember, you may not get much sleep.” Deegie smiled with expectation as Mamut continued, “With visitors, Danug returning after being away for a whole year, your Matrimonial, and Wymez’s success on his trading mission, I think there is reason to gather at the Mammoth Hearth tonight and tell the stories.”
Everyone smiled. They expected the announcement, but that didn’t diminish their anticipation. They knew that a gathering at the Mammoth Hearth meant recounting of experiences, storytelling, and perhaps other entertainment, and they looked forward to the evening with enjoyment. They were eager to hear news of other Camps, and to listen again to stories they knew. And they were as interested in seeing the reactions of the strangers to the lives and adventures of members of their own Camp as to hearing the stories they had to share.
Jondalar also knew what such a gathering meant, and it bothered him. Would Ayla tell much of her story? Would the Lion Camp be as welcoming afterward? He thought about taking her aside to caution her, but he knew it would just make her angry and upset. In many ways she was like the Mamutoi, direct and honest in the expression of her feelings. It wouldn’t do any good anyway. She didn’t know how to lie. At best, she might refrain from speaking.
3
Ayla spent time in the afternoon rubbing down and currying Whinney with a soft piece of leather and the dried spiny head of a teasel. It was as relaxing for her as it was for the horse.
Jondalar worked companionably beside her using a teasel on Racer to soothe his itchy places while he smoothed the colt’s shaggy winter coat, though the young animal wanted to play more than stand still. Racer’s warm and soft inner layer had grown in much thicker, reminding the man how soon the cold would be upon them, which set him to thinking about where they would spend the winter. He still wasn’t sure how Ayla felt about the Mamutoi, but at least the horses and the people of the Camp were getting used to each other.
Ayla noticed the easing of tensions, too, but she was worried about where the horses would spend the night when she was inside the earthlodge. They were used to sharing a cave with her. Jondalar kept assuring her they would be fine, horses were used to being outside. She finally decided to tether Racer near the entrance, knowing Whinney wouldn’t wander far afield without her colt, and that the mare would wake her if any danger presented itself.
The wind turned cold as darkness fell, and there was a breath of snow in the air when Ayla and Jondalar went in, but the Mammoth Hearth in the middle of the semisubterranean dwelling was snug and warm as people gathered. Many had stopped to pick at cold leftovers from the earlier meal which had been brought in: small white starchy groundnuts, wild carrots, blueberries, and slices of mammoth roast. They picked up the vegetables and fruit with fingers or a pair of sticks used as tongs, but Ayla noticed that each peson, except for the youngest children, had an eating knife for the meat. It intrigued her to watch someone take hold of a large slice withthe teeth, then cut off a small bite with an upward flick of the knife—without losing a nose.
Small brown waterbags—the preserved waterproof bladders and stomachs of various animals—were passed around and people drank from them with great relish. Talut offered her a drink. It smelled fermented and somewhat unpleasant, and filled her mouth with a slightly sweet but strong burning taste. She declined a second offer. She didn’t like it, though Jondalar seemed to enjoy
“His first woman was the mother of my grandmother. I’ve slept at his hearth many times. Mamut won’t mind, will you?” Deegie asked, seeing him.
“Of course, you and Branag can stay, Deegie,” the old man said, “but remember, you may not get much sleep.” Deegie smiled with expectation as Mamut continued, “With visitors, Danug returning after being away for a whole year, your Matrimonial, and Wymez’s success on his trading mission, I think there is reason to gather at the Mammoth Hearth tonight and tell the stories.”
Everyone smiled. They expected the announcement, but that didn’t diminish their anticipation. They knew that a gathering at the Mammoth Hearth meant recounting of experiences, storytelling, and perhaps other entertainment, and they looked forward to the evening with enjoyment. They were eager to hear news of other Camps, and to listen again to stories they knew. And they were as interested in seeing the reactions of the strangers to the lives and adventures of members of their own Camp as to hearing the stories they had to share.
Jondalar also knew what such a gathering meant, and it bothered him. Would Ayla tell much of her story? Would the Lion Camp be as welcoming afterward? He thought about taking her aside to caution her, but he knew it would just make her angry and upset. In many ways she was like the Mamutoi, direct and honest in the expression of her feelings. It wouldn’t do any good anyway. She didn’t know how to lie. At best, she might refrain from speaking.
3
Ayla spent time in the afternoon rubbing down and currying Whinney with a soft piece of leather and the dried spiny head of a teasel. It was as relaxing for her as it was for the horse.
Jondalar worked companionably beside her using a teasel on Racer to soothe his itchy places while he smoothed the colt’s shaggy winter coat, though the young animal wanted to play more than stand still. Racer’s warm and soft inner layer had grown in much thicker, reminding the man how soon the cold would be upon them, which set him to thinking about where they would spend the winter. He still wasn’t sure how Ayla felt about the Mamutoi, but at least the horses and the people of the Camp were getting used to each other.
Ayla noticed the easing of tensions, too, but she was worried about where the horses would spend the night when she was inside the earthlodge. They were used to sharing a cave with her. Jondalar kept assuring her they would be fine, horses were used to being outside. She finally decided to tether Racer near the entrance, knowing Whinney wouldn’t wander far afield without her colt, and that the mare would wake her if any danger presented itself.
The wind turned cold as darkness fell, and there was a breath of snow in the air when Ayla and Jondalar went in, but the Mammoth Hearth in the middle of the semisubterranean dwelling was snug and warm as people gathered. Many had stopped to pick at cold leftovers from the earlier meal which had been brought in: small white starchy groundnuts, wild carrots, blueberries, and slices of mammoth roast. They picked up the vegetables and fruit with fingers or a pair of sticks used as tongs, but Ayla noticed that each peson, except for the youngest children, had an eating knife for the meat. It intrigued her to watch someone take hold of a large slice withthe teeth, then cut off a small bite with an upward flick of the knife—without losing a nose.
Small brown waterbags—the preserved waterproof bladders and stomachs of various animals—were passed around and people drank from them with great relish. Talut offered her a drink. It smelled fermented and somewhat unpleasant, and filled her mouth with a slightly sweet but strong burning taste. She declined a second offer. She didn’t like it, though Jondalar seemed to enjoy
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