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“You can carry that a step further, Ayla You know part of your purpose is to bring forth the next generation, but what is the purpose of having another generation? What is the purpose of life?”

“I don’t know What is the purpose of life?” Ayla asked

Zelandoni laughed “If I could answer that, I’d be equal to the Great Mother Herself, Ayla Only She can answer that question There are many who claim our purpose is to honor Her Perhaps our purpose is just to live, and to care for the next generation so that they may live Thatsays She made us because She was lonely, that She wanted to be reed But there are those who say there is no purpose I doubt if that question can be answered in this world, Ayla I’m not sure if it can be answered in the next”

“But at least woeneration How must it feel not to have even that much purpose?” Ayla said “Hoould it feel to think life would go on just the saender, was here or not?”

“Ayla, I have never had any children Should I feel my life has no purpose?” Zelandoni asked

“It’s not the same Perhaps you could have had children, and if you could not, you are still a wos forth life,” Ayla said

“But we are all hu men We’re all just people Both eneration Woirls,” the donier said

“That’s just it Woirls What do the men have to do with it? If you felt that you and all of your kind had no part in creating that next generation, would you feel as hu added on at the lastforward, strongly s about them

Zelandoni pondered the question, then looked at the serious face of the young wo to the zelandonia, Ayla You argue as well as any of them,” she said

Ayla pulled back “I don’t want to be a Zelandoni,” she said

The heavy woman eyed her with speculation “Why not?”

“I just want to be a mother, and Jondalar’s mate,” Ayla said

“Don’t you want to be a healer any me,” the donier said

Ayla frowned “Well, yes, I want to keep on being a healer, too”

“You said you assisted your Mamut a few times in so?” said the One Who Was First