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“What do you think, Ayla! Will it work?”

She took one froenious, device: a fiat narroooden platforroove in the middle where the spear rested, and a backstop carved into a hook-shape Two leather-thong loops for the fingers were fastened on either side near the front of the spear thrower

The throas held first in a horizontal position, with two fingers through the front loops, holding the thrower and the spear, which was resting in the long groove, butt against the backstop When hurling, holding the front end by the loops caused the back end to flip up, in effect increasing the length of the throwing are added to the speed and force hich the spear left the hand

“I think, Jondalar, it’s ti”

Practicing filled their days The padded leather around the target tree fell apart fros, and a second one was put up This tiested theained in proficiency Each of them borrowed from the techniques of the weapon hich he or she wasoverhand casts tended to havemore to the side, had a flatter trajectory And each made a few adjustments on the thrower to suit his or her individual style

A friendly competition developed between thehty thrusts which gave hie; Jondalar could not match Ayla’s deadly accuracy They were both astounded by the tree of the neeapon With it, Jondalar could hurl a spear reater force and perfect control, once a measure of skill was achieved But one aspect of the practice sessions with Jondalar had greater effect on Ayla than the weapon itself

She had always practiced and hunted alone First playing in secret, fearful of being found out Then practicing in earnest, but no less secretly When she was allowed to hunt, it was only grudgingly No one ever hunted with her No one ever encouraged her when she missed, or shared a triumph when her aim was true No one discussed with her the best way to use a weapon, advised her of alternate approaches, or listened with respect and interest to a suggestion of hers And no one had ever teased, or joked, or laughed with her Ayla had never experienced the camaraderie, the friendship, the fun, of a companion

Yet, with all the easing of tensions practicing brought about, a distance remained between them that they could not seem to close When their talk was about such safe subjects as hunting or weapons, their conversations were animated; but the introduction of any personal ele courteous evasions An accidental touch was like a jolting shock fro apart, followed always by stiff forhts

“To spear Soed and ragged hole in the leather

“Tomorrohat?” Ayla asked

“Tooing to learn any et serious”

“Toreed

They picked up several spears and started walking back “You know the area around here, Ayla Where should we go?”

“I know the steppes to the east best, but o on Whinney” She looked up to check the placement of the sun “It’s still early”

“Good idea You and that horse are better than a handful of foot scouts”

“Will you hold Racer back? I’ll feel better if I know he’s not following”

“What about to?”

“We’ll have to take hi the meat back Whinney is always a little bothered by a kill, but she’s used to it She will stay where I want her to, but if her colt gets excited and runs, and ht in a stampede … I don’t know”

“Don’t worry about it now I’ll try to think of so”

Ayla’s piercing whistle brought the mare and the colt While Jondalar put an arm around Racer’s neck, scratched his itchy places, and talked to hi one was comfortable with the one, Jondalar picked up the armload of spears and both throwers

“Well, Racer, shall we go to the cave to wait for them?”