page46 (1/2)

“Is there a place to pass water nearby?” she asked quietly “Or do we have to go back to the dwellings?”

Marthona s There’s a patii to The River near the Standing Stone, a little steep near the top, but it goes to a place near the bank that is used mainly by the women I’ll show you” Wolf followed them, watched Ayla for a while, then discovered a scentand left to explore more of the bank of The River On the way back, they passed Kareja heading down the path They nodded to each other in

After everything was cleared away, and Joharran made sure everyone was there, he stood up It seenal to resume discussions Everyone looked at the leader of the Ninth Cave

“Ayla,” Joharran said, “while ere eating, Kareja brought up a question Jondalar says that he can communicate with flatheads, the Clan, as you call thee as well as he says?”

“Yes, I know the language,” Ayla said “I was raised by thee until I , before I lost my own people, but I didn’t remember it at all”

“But the place where you greas very far froht?” Joharran continued Ayla nodded “The language of people who live far away is not the same as ours I cannot understand you when you and Jondalar speak Mamutoi Even the Losadunai, who live e Sorasp a little, but I can’t coe of these Clan people is not the same as ours, but how can you, who coe of the ones who live around here?”

“I understand your doubt,” Ayla said “I wasn’t sure a if I would be able to coe ords is different frons and signals, but because they have two languages”

“What do you es?” asked Zelandoni Who Was First

“They have an ordinary co theestures for thepostures and expressions, they also use soh they can’t make all of the sounds that the Others can Some clans speak words e and words of Guban and Yorga were different from those of my clan, and I couldn’t understand thee that they use to speak to the World of the Spirits, and to communicate with people froe It is very ancient and no words are used, except soe I used”

“Let me make sure I understand this,” Zelandoni said “This Clan—we’re talking about flatheads here—not only have one language, they have two, and one of theible with any other flathead, even someone who lives a year’s Journey away?”

“It is rather hard to believe, isn’t it?” Jondalar said with a wide grin “But it is true”

Zelandoni shook her head The rest looked just as skeptical

“It’s a very ancient language, and people of the Clan have very long ”

“I find it difficult to believe that they can really cons, anyway,” Brameval said

“I feel the same way,” Kareja said “As Joharran said about the Losadunai and the Zelandonii co about only simple concepts”