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“Jondalar,” she said in a quiet voice, “I think there is a mammoth on that wall!”

“Yes, there is, more than one,” Jondalar said “I think if there wasn’t soht now, this cave would be shown to you with the proper cereht in here ere children Not young children, old enough to understand, but still children It’s frightening, but wonderful, when you see this place for the first tiht Even when you know it’s all part of the cere”

“Why are we here, Jondalar?” she asked “What is so important?”

The acolyte in front had turned around and co followed anymore

“Didn’t anyone tell you?” she said

“Jonokol just said Zelandoni wanted Jondalar and me,” she said

“I’m not absolutely certain,” Jondalar said, “but I think we’re here to help Zelandoni locate Thonolan’s spirit and, if he needs it, to help him find his way We’re the only ones who saw the place where he died, and with the stone you wanted ood idea, by the way—she thinks we may,” Jondalar said

“What is this place?” Ayla asked

“It has many naht up with them “Most people refer to it as the Deep Cave in Fountain Rocks, or sometimes Doni’s Deep The zelandonia know its sacred nah it is seldom mentioned This is the Entrance to the Womb of the Mother, or one of them There are several others that are just as sacred”

“Everyone knows, of course, that entrance implies exit,” Jonokol added “That means the entrance to the womb is also the birth canal”

“So that means this is one of the birth canals of the Great Earth Mother,” the young male acolyte said

“Like the song Zelandoni sang at Shevonar’s burial, this ht forth the Children of Earth,’ ” Ayla said

“She understands,” the wo toward the other two acolytes “Youwell,” she said to Ayla

“The first ri

“That’s not entirely true, Jondalar,” Ayla said “Don’t you re like it, except they don’t sing it They just say the words The Losaduna taught it to e It’s not exactly the same, but it’s similar”