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As they spoke, the second raft appeared around the bend, and was slowed down by the subed rock riverbed as the first raft had been, but the current had pushed theed to avoid getting caught in the back eddy Once they saw that the second raft was clear, the first raft started out again There was still soh water ahead, and in one place the raft behind the rock and started into a spin, but they et out of it
Zelandoni held on to her rope handles again as she felt the raft lift on a surging wave and then dive down into rushing water It happened a few more times before they came to another bend in the river Beyond that, suddenly, T
he River was calm, and on the left bank was a nice sandy level beach and a sot close, one of the paddlers threw a loop of rope that was attached to the raft around a pole anchored sturdily into the ground at the edge of the river The second paddler threw another rope, and between them they pulled the raft up close to the small dock at the shore
“We should get off here and wait for the others Besides, I need a rest,” the man with the pole said
“Yes, you do, we all do,” the First said
The second raft appeared as the ones who arrived first got off The people fro platforot off to take a rest A little later, Ayla and Jondalar and their e of the cliff they had just passed Getting caught in the backwater eddy had slowed the rafts down, giving the horses time to catch up
They all greeted each other enthusiastically, glad to see that everyone was safe Then a man of the Eleventh Cave started a fire in a pit that had obviously been used before Rocks that were s tumbled around by The River had been collected earlier and piled near the edge of the stream to dry out Dry rocks heated faster when put in the fire, and were less dangerous Moisture trapped within rocks could cause them to explode when exposed to the heat of a fire Water was drawn fro bowls and a kerfed box When the hot cobbles were added to the water they produced a cloud of steaht the water to cooking temperature
Traveling by water wasthe hen they were on The River, so they used the food they brought with them Various leaves for tea went into the kerfed box; dried e bowl, along with dried vegetables and soht before In the second bowl, dried fruits were added to the hot water to soften theet back on the rafts and finish their water journey before it got dark
Toward theto the size of the streaain as rough as it had been going through the ater rapids They followed the left bank south until they ca River; then as The River delta widened at the mouth, the Eleventh Cave river rafters kept the craft toward theRiver The conflicting currents of the two rivers had built up a bar, a ridge of sand and silt, that added another precarious aspect to their ride when they crossed over it Then, suddenly they were in athem toward the Great Waters The pole was of little value now Theit picked up a second oar that had been tied down near the edge The two aceros antlers and Shenora, the wo the river She pulled the rudder over as far as it would go to steer it toward the opposite shore, while the roorked to guide the lu craft The second raft followed them
The horses and wolf swa the shore, keeping the raft in sight as it angled toward land As they rode downstream, Jondalar remembered with fondness the boats used by the Sharamudoi who lived beside the Great Mother River They lived so far downstreanificant watercourse that it had become quite wide and swift, but the boats they used skimle person using a double-ended paddle Jondalar had learned to use one, though he’d had a e ones could be used to carry goods and people, though they also neededoars to propel thereater control
He thought about how the boats werehot coals and stone knives, shaped both ends into a point, and stretched the log with steam to make it wider in the middle Then planks, known as strakes, were added to the sides to enlarge the watercraft, attached ooden pegs and leather ties He had helped the with them
“Ayla, remember the boats of the Sharamudoi?” Jondalar said “I think we could make one—at least I’d like to try—a small one, to show the Eleventh Cave I have tried to explain the boats to them, but it’s hard to et the idea”
“If you want me to help you, I’ll be happy to,” Ayla said “We could also make one of those round bowl boats that the Mamutoi used to s e attached it to Whinney’s pole-drag, especially e had to cross rivers” Then she frowned “But soht need me”
“I know,” he said “If you can help et my apprentices to help The bowl boats can be useful, but I think I’ll try to make one of those ser, but it’ll be easier to control, and it would give us an opportunity to develop effective knives to make those kinds of boats If the Eleventh Cave likes it as well as I think they will, I’m sure I can trade the boat for a future use of their rafts, and if they decide to ht want to use knives especially designed for carving out the inside of logs, and I could make future trades for many trips on the river”
Ayla thought about the way Jondalar’sahead, especially to gain some benefit for the future She kneas very conscientious about taking care of her and Jonayla, and she knew the Zelandonii concept of status was also involved in some way It was important to hiiven situation to achieve it His mother, Marthona, was like that too, and he had obviously learned from her Ayla understood the notion of status; it had been perhaps of even greater consequence to the Clan, but to her it didn’t see various people, it always see that came to her; she had never had to strive for it, and she wasn’t sure if she would kno to