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The woman nodded imperceptibly as Ayla went on

“I know that a person is usually dedicated to the Mammoth Hearth, not adopted Talut and Nezzie were the ones who asked e to make a special winter shelter for the horses, but the old Ma the cereed to the Mammoth Hearth, that I was born to it”

“If you brought those horses with you to Lion Caht say that,” the man said

The woman looked at him with annoyance and said a feords under her breath Then the three people spoke together again The ers were probably people and not spirits playing a trick—or if they were, not harmful ones—but he did not believe they were exactly who they claie behavior of the animals was too siued him The woman felt they spoke too easily, volunteered too , and she was sure there was more to it than either of the to do with them

The ma another thought that would, to one who understood such things, account for the extraordinary behavior of the animals much more plausibly She was sure the blond woman was a powerful Caller, and the old Mamut must have known she was born with an uncanny control over animals Perhaps the man was, too Later, when their Ca to talk to the Lion Cahts about these two It was easier to believe in ic than the preposterous notion that animals could be domesticated

During their consultation, there was a disagreeers disturbed her If she had thought about it, shearound such an overt demonstration of occult power, but she was overruled The man spoke

“This place where the rivers join is a good place to caiant deer are co this way They should be here in a few days We will not mind if you choose to camp nearby and join us in the hunt”

“We appreciate your offer,” Jondalar said “We ht, but we ”

It was a guarded offer, not quite the welcoers when he and his brother had traveled together on foot The foriven in the name of the Mother, offered more than hospitality It was considered an invitation to join the them for a time The man’s more limited invitation showed their uncertainty, but at least they weren’t being threatened with spears any more

“Then, in the na , too” That much welcome the headman could offer, and Jondalar sensed he would have liked to offer more

“In the name of the Great Earth Mother, ould be happy to eat with you tonight, after we have set up our careed, “but we must leave early”

“Where are you going in such a hurry?”

The directness that was typical of the Maht Jondalar by surprise, even after all the tier The head Jondalar’s people; not a n of immaturity, or lack of appreciation for theadults

But, Jondalar had learned, candor and directness were considered proper ah their ere not as completely open as they seemed Subtleties existed It was a matter of how one expressed directness, hoas received, and as not said But the forthright curiosity of the head the Mamutoi, entirely appropriate

“I a this woman back with me”

“Why should a day or two make any difference?”

“My hoone …”Jondalar stopped to consider, “four years, and it will take another year to get back, if we are lucky There are so the way, and I don’t want to reach the season”

“West? It looks like you’re traveling south”

“Yes We are heading for Beran Sea and the Great Mother River We will follow her upstream”

“My cousin est on a trading mission, some years back He said some people there live near a river they also call the Great Mother,” the ht it was the same one They traveled west froo, but there is a passage south of the Great Ice, but north of the htthat way”

“Talut told me of the northern route, but no one seems to be sure that it is the sa to find the right one I came the southern way, and I know that route Besides, I have kin a the River People My brother was mated to a Sharamudoi woman, and I lived with them I’d like to see theain”

“We trade with the River People … seeo, living with that group that a Mamutoi woman joined It o brothers, now that I think about it The Shara custo with another couple—so any Mamutoi relations anted to coone back since”

“That was my brother, Thonolan,” Jondalar said, pleased that the account tended to verify his story, although he still could not say his brother’s na pain “It was his Matrimonial He joined with Jetamio, and they became cross-mates with Markeno and Tholie Tholie was the one who first taught me to speak Mamutoi”

“Tholie is a distant cousin of mine, and you are the brother of one of her mates?” The man turned to his sister “Thurie, thisfor an answer, he said, “I am Rutan, headman of Falcon Camp In the name of Mut, the Great Mother, you are welcome”

The woman had no choice She would not e with his to say to him privately “I am Thurie, headwoman of Falcon Camp In the name of the Mother, you are welcome here In summer, we are Feather Grass Camp”

It was not the warmest welcome he had ever received Jondalar detected a definite reservation and restriction She elco him “here,” to this place specifically, but this was a temporary location He knew Feather Grass Ca caroup, like the rest, lived in a pere or several ses, which they called Falcon Camp She had not welcomed him there

“I areet you in the name of the Great Earth Mother, e call Doni”

“We do have extra sleeping places in the mamut’s tent,” Thurie continued, “but I don’t know about the … animals”

“If you would not mind,” Jondalar said, if only for the sake of courtesy, “it would be easier for us to set up our own camp nearby, rather than stay within your Caraze, and they know our tent and will return to it Theyinto your Camp”

“Of course,” Thurie said, relieved They would make her uneasy, too

Ayla realized she needed to exchange welcomes, too Wolf seemed less defensive, and Ayla tentatively relaxed her hold on hiht When she stood up, he started to jump up o