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“Yes, like that over there,” he said, jabbing his finger in the air at the fireplace “How did you make it?”

She got up, went to the fireplace and pointed to it, “Fyr?” she said

He heaved a sigh and leaned back on the furs, suddenly realizing he had been trying to force her to understand words she didn’t know “I’m sorry, Ayla That was stupid of me How can you tell ?”

The tension was gone Jondalar closed his eyes feeling drained and frustrated, but Ayla was excited She had a word Only one, but it was a beginning No could she keep it going? How could she tell him to teach her more, that she had to learn more

“Don-da-lah … ?” He opened his eyes She pointed to the fireplace again “Fyr?”

“Fire, yes, that’s fire,” he said, nodding affir tired, a little silly for getting so excited, and in pain, physically and emotionally

He wasn’t interested What could she do to ry that she couldn’t think of some way to communicate her need to him She tried one more time

“Don-da-lah” She waited until he opened his eyes again “Fyr … ?” she said with hopeful appeal in her eyes

What does she want? Jondalar thought, his curiosity aroused “What about that fire, Ayla?”

She could sense he was asking a question, in the set of his shoulders and the expression on his face He was paying attention She looked around, trying to think of some way to tell him, and she saw the wood beside the fire She picked up a stick, brought it to him, and held it up with the same hopeful look

His forehead knotted in puzzle to understand “Do you want the word for that?” he asked, wondering at her sudden interest in learning his language, when she see! She wasn’t exchanging a language with hi to speak! Could that be why she was so silent? Because she didn’t kno to speak?

He touched the stick in her hand “Wood,” he said

Her breath exploded out; she didn’t know she had been holding it “Ud … ?” she tried

“Wood,” he said slowly, exaggerating his mouth to enunciate clearly

“Ooo-ud,” she said, trying to make her mouth mimic his

“That’s better,” he said, nodding

Her heart was pounding Did he understand? She searched again, frantically, for so Her eyes fell on the cup She picked it up and held it out,

“Are you trying to get me to teach you to talk?”