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“Don’t fight it, Ayla Let go,” the great donier said “We are all here with you We will support you, Doni will protect you Let Her take you where She will Listen to the music, let it help you, tell us what you see”

Ayla dove through the tunnel headfirst, as though she were swian to shih therassland and, in the distance, many bison

“I see bison, huge herds of bison on a large open plain,” Ayla said For a ain, but the bison stayed They covered the walls where the mammoths had been “They are on the walls, painted on the walls, painted in reds and black, and shaped to fit They’re beautiful, perfect, so full of life, the way Jonokol makes them Don’t you see them? Look, over there”

The walls h the toward the surround” Suddenly Ayla screaerous” Then, with sorrow and resignation, “It’s too late I’ I could, Shevonar”

“She wanted a sacrifice, to show respect, so people know that soive of their own,” the First said She was there with Ayla “You cannot stay here anymore, Shevonar You must return to Her noill help you We will help you We will show you the way Coht ahead? The bright, glowing light? Go that way She waits for you there”

Ayla held Jondalar’s war presence of Zelandoni ith the wouous, inconsistent Occasionally she would ly, then would fade to uncertainty

“Now is the tie woman said “Ayla can help you She knows the way”

Ayla felt the stone they held between theht about the beautiful, blue-tonedthe space around her until she dove into it She ih the water, underwater, so fast that it felt as if she were flying She was flying, speeding over the landscape, seeing reat inland seas and vast grassy steppes, and the profusion of animals those habitats supported

The others ith her, letting her lead Jondalar was closest, and she felt hily, but she sensed the proximity of the powerful donier as well The other woman’s presence was so faint, it was hardly noticed Ayla took theed steppes far to the east “This is the place I saw hio from here,” she said

“Think of Thonolan, call to his spirit, Jondalar,” Zelandoni said “Reach out to your brother’s elan”

“Thonolan! Thonolan! I can feel him,” Jondalar said “I don’t knohere he is, but I can feel hih she could not discern who Then she sensed other presences, at first just a few, then , two stood out … no, three One of them carried an infant

“Are you still traveling, still exploring, Thonolan?” Jondalar asked

Ayla heard no answer, but sensed laughter Then, she had the feeling of an infinity of space to travel and places to go

“Is Jetamio with you? And her child?” Jondalar queried

Again, Ayla sensed no words, but felt a surge of love radiating from the amorphous form