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“No, I really don’t want to”
“Well, since they’re waiting for you,in a while,” Marona said “We still have to change”
“I think I will,” Ayla said, glad to have an excuse to leave They had been inside for a long tiifts,” she remembered to say “This is really a very comfortable outfit” She picked up her worn tunic and short pants and went out
She saw no one under the overhanging shelter; Folara had gone ahead without waiting for her Ayla quickly veered toward Marthona’s dwelling and left her old clothing inside the entrance Then she walked rapidly toward the crowd of people she saw outside, beyond the shadow of the high stone shelf that protected the structures nestled beneath it
As she caht of the late afternoon sun, a few people nearby noticed her and stopped talking to gape Then a few hbors to look, too Ayla slowed down and then stopped, looking back at the people ere looking at her Soon all the talking stopped Suddenly, into the stillness, sohed, and another Soon everyone was laughing
Why were they laughing? Were they laughing at her? Was so? Her face reddened with embarrassment Had she co to run away but not knohich way to turn
She saw Jondalar striding toward her, his face an angry scowl Marthona was hurrying toward her, too, from another direction
“Jondalar!” Ayla called out as he approached “Why is everyone laughing atin Mamutoi and didn’t realize it
“You are wearing a boy’s winter underwear Your belt is one that is worn by a younghis puberty initiation, to let people know he is ready for his donii-woe she had spoken He was furious that Ayla had been made the butt of such a cruel joke on her first day with his people
“Where did you get those clothes?” Marthona asked as she approached
“Marona,” Jondalar answered for her “When ere at The River, she came and told Ayla that she wanted to help her dress for the celebration tonight I should have guessed she had soet back at me”
They all turned around and looked back under the abri toward the dwelling of Marona’s brother Standing just inside the shadows of the overhang were the four woainst each other, laughing so hard at the wo co, that tears were strea their careful makeup with red and black streaks Ayla realized they were taking great pleasure in her discomfort and embarrassment
As she watched the woift they wanted to give her? To welcoh at her like this? She understood then that everything they had laid out for her was inappropriate for a woman It was obvious to her now that it all had beenBut it wasn’t only the clothes, she realized Was that why they had h at her? And had they planned to paint her face to hable, too?
Ayla had
always rejoiced in laughter When she lived with the Clan, she was the only one who laughed with pleasure, until her son was born When people of the Clan n of happiness It was an expression of nervousness, or fearfulness, or it signaled a threat of possible aggression Her son was the only baby who sh it les