The clan of the cave bear_ a novel - Jean M. Auel [182]
“Maybe after a long time the magic loses strength. Maybe my totem didn’t want to fight anymore, maybe he wanted me to have a child. I don’t know. Nothing works all the time. There are forces stronger than any magic, but it worked for many years. No one understands spirits completely, not even Mog-ur. Who would have thought your totem could be defeated, Ayla?” The medicine woman glanced around quickly. “Now, before Creb comes, you know the little yellow vine with tiny leaves and flowers?”
“Golden thread?”
“Yes, that’s the one. Sometimes it’s called strangle weed because it kills the plant it grows on. Let it dry, crush about this much in the palm of your hand, boil it in enough water to fill the bone cup until the decoction is the color of ripe hay. Drink two swallows every day that the spirit of your totem is not fighting.”
“Doesn’t it also make a good poultice for stings and bites?”
“Yes, and that gives you a good reason to have it around, but the poultice is used on the skin, outside the body. To give your totem strength, you drink it. There’s something else you must take, while your totem is fighting. The root of antelope sage, dried or fresh. Boil it and drink the water, one bowl every day you are isolated,” Iza continued.
“Isn’t that the plant with the ragged leaf that’s good for Creb’s arthritis?”
“That’s the one. I know of one other, but I’ve never used it. It’s the magic of another medicine woman; we traded knowledge. There is a certain yam—it doesn’t grow around here, but I’ll show you how it is different from the ones that do. Cut it into chunks and boil it down and mash it into a thick paste, then let it dry and pound it into a powder. It takes a lot, half a bowl of the powder mixed with water to make it a paste again, every day you are not isolated, when the spirits are not fighting.”
Creb entered the cave and saw the two women deeply engrossed in conversation. He could see the difference in Ayla immediately. She was animated, attentive, thoughtful, smiling. She must have snapped out of it, he thought, limping toward his hearth.
“Iza!” he announced loudly to get their attention. “Must a man starve around here?”
The woman jumped up looking a little guilty, but Creb didn’t notice. He was so pleased to see Ayla busily working and talking, he didn’t see Iza.
“It’ll be ready soon, Creb,” Ayla motioned, and smiling, ran up and gave him a hug. It made Creb feel better than he had for a long time. As he settled down on his mat, Uba came running into the cave.
“I’m hungry!” the little girl gestured.
“You’re always hungry, Uba.” Ayla laughed as she picked up the girl and swung her around. Uba was delighted. It was the first time Ayla felt like playing with her all summer.
Later, after they had eaten, Uba crawled into Creb’s lap. Ayla was humming under her breath while she helped Iza clean up. Creb sighed contentedly; it felt much more like home. Boys are very important, he thought, but I think I like girls better. They don’t have to be big and brave all the time and don’t mind cuddling in a lap to go to sleep. I almost wish Ayla were still a little girl.
Ayla woke the next morning wrapped in a warm glow of anticipation. I’m going to have a baby, she thought. She hugged herself, lying in her furs. Suddenly she was eager to get up. I think I’ll go down to the stream this morning, my hair needs a washing. She bounced out of bed, but a wave of nausea overcame her. Maybe I’d better eat something solid to see if it will stay down. I’ve got to eat if I want my baby to be healthy. It didn’t stay down, but after she was up for a while, she ate again and felt better. She was still thinking about the miracle of her pregnancy when she left the cave and started for the stream.
“Ayla!” Broud sneered, as he swaggered up and made the signal.
Ayla was startled. She had forgotten all about Broud. She had more important things to think about, like warm cuddly nursing babies, her own warm cuddly nursing baby. Might as well get it over with, she thought, and patiently assumed the position for Broud to relieve