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“I’ll go get it right away,” Ayla said

“Co to dig it with,” the wo and held the drape aside so Ayla could enter She had never been inside the donier’s ho about it re leaves and other parts of plants that were hanging fro across the back end of the ainst the wall panels in the front part, though she was sure that was not where the large woman slept There appeared to be two other roo, she saw that one of theht be a sleeping room

“Here’s the basket and the pick for collecting the red earth,” Zelandoni said, giving her a sturdy container stained red fro tool firmly attached to an antler handle

Ayla left Zelandoni’s dwelling carrying the basket and pick Zelandoni walked out with her and started toward the south end of the shelter Wolf had found a place where he liked to rest on the stone porch, out of the way, but where he could watch the activities When he saw Ayla, he immediately ran to her The donier stopped

“I think it ht be wise if you kept Wolf away from the body of Shevonar,” she said “For his own protection Until the round, his life spirit is floating free and very confused I kno to protect people, but I’m not sure how to defend a wolf, and I aht try to inhabit this anio ht off so evil or a bewildered spirit The bite of such an animal will kill like a deadly poison”

“I will look for Folara and ask her to watch hi the red ochre,” Ayla said

Wolf followed along behind her as she walked down the path toward the place where she and Jondalar had gone swi and cleaned themselves shortly after they arrived She filled the basket nearly full, then started back up the path She saw Folara talking to her rinned, delighted to stay with the wolf Her mother had just asked her to co she wanted to do, and she knew Marthona would not refuse Ayla’s request

“ItIf you want to go out, I have a special rope that can be put around his neck in a way that won’t choke him Wolf doesn’t like it much, but he’ll put up with it Come with me and I’ll show you how to put it on him,” Ayla said

Then she walked to the far end of the ledge and gave the red ochre to the First She stayed to help clean and dress the body of Shevonar Jondalar’s mother soon came to help as well—she had done it many ti people to their dwelling, and Wolf seemed content to be with them

Ayla was intrigued by the clothing they put on the dead hunter, though she was reluctant to mention her interest at the time The outfit consisted of a loose, soft tunic made of the furs of different animals, and hides tanned and colored in various shades that were sewn together into intricate patterns and accented with beads, shells, and fringes The tunic was bloused and belted at the hips with a colorful band of woven fabric The leggings, though less elaborate, s, which had a fringe and an edging of fur attached to the tops Necklaces s had been placed around his neck and artfully arranged

Then the body was laid out on blocks of lie, sons that were colored with red ochre Long cords were strung through each end, which, Marthona explained to Ayla, could be pulled together so that the e would then be wrapped around the shrouded body and tied Beneath the e, which could be slung from a pole like a haround and lowered into the grave

Shevonar had been a spear- the with so on, which included wooden shafts, ivory and flint points, and the sinew, cords, and glue used to attach them The sinew and cords were used to fasten the points to the shafts, and to bind sections of shorter pieces of wood together to er spears, which were then celue

Relona had brought the things frorief when she placed Shevonar’s favorite shaft-straightener within easy reach of his right hand It was made of an ander of a red deer, the ste tines After the tines had been cut off, a good-size hole was bored through the wide end where the antler had begun to branch out Ayla recognized that it was siht back with theed to his brother Thonolan

Depictions of anie horns, and various symbols had been carved into the device She recalled Jondalar saying that they lent potency to the shaft-straightener so that the spears ht and true, and would have a co attractiveness to the animal at which they were ai aesthetic touch was appreciated

While Shevonar’s body was being prepared under the supervision of Zelandoni, Joharran was directing others to construct a te rasses supported by poles When the body was ready, the shelter was placed over him, then walled with quickly made movable panels The Zelandonia entered the shelter to perfor spirit close to the body and within the shelter