page60 (1/2)

The hunters with their spears raced to form a protective phalanx between the provoked brute and the anxious audience Wohter while older children clung to theripped their spears ready to jump to the defense of vulnerable women and terrified children But the people of the Clan held their place

As the wounded cave bear lus, Broud, Gorn, and Voord, poised at the top, leaped on the surprised bruin Broud stood on his shoulders, reached over and seized the fur on his face, and yanked up Meanwhile, Voord had landed on his back He grabbed the shaggy hair and pulled doith all his weight, tightening the loose skin around his neck Their coling ani astride his shoulder, quickly shoved the log broadside into hisfast between his jaws, i one weapon in the cave bear’s arsenal

But the tactic did not disared bruin swiped at the creatures clinging to hih of thehunter into his onized cry was cut short as a powerful bear hug snapped his spine A long wail rose fro woeous young man

The bear waded into the squad of spear-wieldingani down three ash that tore theto the bone The man doubled over in pain, in shock too severe to screaet in close enough to thrust spears into the belligerent beast

Ayla clutched Durc in horrified awe, petrified that the bear would reach theround, she didn’t think, she just acted Shoving her baby at Uba, she dashed into the h the close-packed ed, half-carried the woundedhard on the pressure point in his groin with one hand, she held the end of the thong of her wrap in her teeth and cut off a piece with her other hand

The tourniquet was in place and she iping away blood with her baby’s carrying cloak before two other erous struggle, they ran to help her The three of them carried the wounded man into the cave, and in their frantic efforts to save his life, weren’t even ahen the huge bear finally succumbed to the spears of the hunters of the Clan

The moment the cave bear was down, Gorn’s ht to comfort her, and ran to his body sprawled in an unnatural position on the ground She threw herself on hi back on her knees, in frantic gestures she pleaded with hi’s -urs approached theently tilted her head up to look at her

“Do not grieve for hinaled with a tender look of coreatest honor He was chosen by Ursus to accompany him to the world of the spirits He will help the Great Spirit intercede for us The Spirit of the Great Cave Bear selects only the finest, the bravest, to travel with hie, his will to ill be re Just as Ursus returns, so will the spirit of Gorn He ait for you so that you ain, but you rief aside and share your -urs will give him a special honor so that his bravery will be shared by everyone, so it will pass on to the Clan”

The young wouish, to be as brave as the awesome holy man said she must She didn’t want to dishonor her ician whom everyone feared, soratitude, she got up and walked stiffly back to her place She -ur told her Gorn would wait for her? That soain? Her et the desolate emptiness of the rest of this life without him

When Gorn’s mate returned to her position, the an to skin the cave bear The blood was collected in bowls, and after the estures over it, the acolytes passed through the crowd holding the vessels to the mouth of each member of their clan Men, women, children all had a taste of the warm blood, the life fluid of Ursus Even the erful of fresh blood placed on their tongues Ayla and the two medicine women were called from the cave to partake of their share, and the injured ulp of bear’s blood restored to hireat bear that bound theether as one people

The women worked rapidly while the Clan watched The thick, subcutaneous layer of the purposely fattened animal was carefully scraped away froical properties and would be distributed to the -urs of each clan The head was left attached to the hide, and while thestone-lined pits, heated by fires, for a full day, the acolytes hung the huge bearskin on poles in front of the cave, where his unseeing eyes could watch the festivities The Cave Bear would be an honored guest at his own feast When the bearskin was nity carried it into the deep recesses of the cave After they were gone, Brun gave a signal, and the crowd broke up The Spirit of Ursus had been sent on his ith full and proper ceremony

24

“Then how did she do it? None of the others dared to get hi-ur of the clan to which the wounded h she knew Ursus wouldn’t hurt her, just like the first day I think The Mog-ur is right, Ursus has accepted her She is a woman of the Clan Our medicine woman said she saved his life, she’s not only well-trained, she has a natural skill, like she was born to it I believe she must be of Iza’s line”

The -urs were in a small cave deep inside the rease absorbed by a dried ht that pushed back the absolute black that surrounded thelinted off hidden facets in the crystalsheen of daing to reach their inverted counterparts growing fro a union Strained through the stone of ages, the calcereous drops had culminated in stately colu at the center One straining stalactite es yet to bridge

“She did surprise everyone when she showed no fear of Ursus that first day,” another reed, is there still time for her to prepare?”

“There is ti-ur answered, “if we hurry”

“She was born to the Others, how can she be a wo-ur demanded “Others are not Clan, they never will be You say she came to you already marked with Clan totem scars, but those are not the marks of a woman’s totem How can you be sure they’re Clan marks? Clan women do not have Cave Lion totems”

“I never said she was born with it,” The Mog-ur said reasonably “Are you saying a Cave Lion cannot choose a woman? A Cave Lion can choose whomever he wants She was nearly dead when she was found; Iza brought her back to life Do you think a young girl could escape a cave lion if she wasn’t un

der the protection of his Spirit? He n so there could be no doubt Those are Clan tote, no one can deny that Why would she be marked with Clan totem scars if she wasn’t intended to become a woman of the Clan? I don’t knohy, I don’t clai With the help of Ursus, sometimes I can interpret what they do Can any of you do any better? I will only say she knows the ritual; Iza has given her the secret of the roots in the red bag, and Iza would not have told her if she wasn’t her daughter We don’t have to give up the ritual I’ve already given you all uments before You must decide, but do it soon”

“You said your clan thinks she’s lucky,” Norg’s -ur motioned

“Not soluck We have been very lucky since she was found Droog thinks of her as a sign fro unique and unusual Perhaps she’s lucky, too, in her oay”

“Well, it’s certainly unusual enough for a woman of the Others to be a woman of the Clan,” one of them commented

“She brought luck to us today, our young hunter is going to live,” the wounded reeable; it would be a shame to miss Iza’s drink if we don’t have to” There were several nods of agreement

“What about you?” The Mog-ur signaled to the ician as second “Do you still think Ursus will be displeased if Ayla makes the ritual drink?”

All heads turned to look at hiician still objected, he could sway enough of the other -urs to prevent it If he just adareed, it would be enough Agreement had to be unanimous; there could be no schis the question, then at each man in turn

“It may or itabout her bothers me But it’s obvious no one else wants to eliminate the ritual, and it seems she is the only one available I’d alhter, in spite of her youth If everyone else agrees, I ithdraw my objection I don’t like it, but I won’t prevent it”