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“I’ve been thinking the sa about what Jondalar had said of the fearful effect Ayla’s anih she didn’t mention it It could be useful

“That’s true, of course, et used to the idea of talking to flatheads, or calling the to have trouble,” Joharran said He paused, then shook his head as if to himself “If they talk with their hands, how do you know they’re really talking and not just waving their arms around?”

Everyone looked at Ayla She turned to Jondalar

“I think you should show them,” he said, “and maybe you could talk at the sa to Guban and translating for me”

“What should I say?”

“Why not just greet the for Guban?” he said

Ayla thought for a tireet thereet anyone the saesture was always the san It was alwaysit and to whon for a person of the Clan to greet one of the Others It had never been done before, not in a fored way Perhaps she could think of hoould be done if they ever had to She stood up and backed into the clear area in the middle of the main room

“This woan, then paused “Or perhaps one should say People of the Mother,” she said, trying to think of how the Clan ns

“Try Children of the Mother, or Children of the Great Earth Mother,” Jondalar suggested

She nodded and started over “This woreet you, Children of Doni, the Great Earth Mother” She said her own name and that of the Mother in verbal sounds, but with the inflection and tonal quality of the Clan The rest was coe and spoken in Zelandonii

“This woreeted by one of the Clan of the Cave Bear, and that the greeting would be returned The Mog-ur told this woo deep The Clan was here when the new ones came They named the new ones, the Others, the ones ere not Clan The Clan chose to go their oay, to avoid the Others That is the Clan way and Clan traditions change slowly, yet soe, would make new traditions If that is to be, this woe would harm neither Clan nor Others”

Her Zelandoni translation was spoken in a soft-voiced monotone, with as much precision and as little accent as she could The words told the, but they could see that she was not estures, the subtlethe head in pride, bowing in acquiescence, even raising an eyebrow, all flowed together snificance of each motion was not clear, that her movements

hadwas

The total effect was startling, and beautiful; it sent a shiver down Marthona’s back She glanced at Zelandoni, who caught her quick look and nodded She, too, had felt so profound Jondalar noticed the discreet byplay; he atching those who Were watching Ayla and could see the i in rapt attention with a frown creasing his forehead; Willa approval; Folara’s shted, he had to smile, too

When she was done, Ayla sat down at the table again, lowering herself to a cross-legged position with an elegant ease that was more noticeable after her performance There was an uneasy silence around the table No one knew quite what to say, and each felt they needed time to think Finally Folara felt compelled to fill the void