The clan of the cave bear_ a novel - Jean M. Auel [69]
“What made her bring a rabbit into the cave?” Creb asked.
“It was hurt. She brought it to me to heal it. She didn’t know we don’t bring animals into our home. But her feelings were not wrong, Creb, I think she has the instincts of a medicine woman. Creb,” Iza paused—“I wanted to talk to you about her. She is not an attractive child, you know.”
Creb glanced in Ayla’s direction. “She’s appealing, but you’re right, she’s not attractive,” he admitted. “But what does that have to do with the rabbit?”
“What chance will she ever have to mate? Any man with a totem strong enough for her would never want her. He could have his pick of women. What will happen to her when she becomes a woman? If she doesn’t mate, she will have no status.”
“I’ve thought about it, but what’s to be done?”
“If she were a medicine woman, she would have her own status,” Iza suggested, “and she’s like a daughter to me.”
“But she’s not of your line, Iza. She was not born to you. Your daughter will carry on your line.”
“I know, I have a daughter now, but why can’t I train Ayla, too? Didn’t you name her as I held her in my arms? Didn’t you announce her totem at the same time? That makes her my daughter, doesn’t it? She was accepted, she’s Clan now, isn’t she?” Iza asked fervently, then rushed on, afraid Creb would answer unfavorably. “I think she has a natural talent for it, Creb. She shows an interest, she is always asking me questions when I work the healing magic.”
“She asks more questions than anyone I’ve ever met,” Creb interjected, “about everything. She must learn it is discourteous to ask so many questions,” he added.
“But look at her, Creb. She sees a wounded animal and wants to heal it. That’s the sign of a medicine woman if I ever saw one.”
Creb was silent, thoughtful. “Acceptance into the Clan doesn’t change who she is, Iza. She was born to the Others, how can she learn all the knowledge you have? You know she doesn’t have the memories.”
“But she learns quickly. You’ve seen that. Look how fast she learned to talk. You’d be surprised how much she has learned already. And she has good hands for it, a gentle touch. She held the rabbit while I put on the splint. It seemed to trust her.” Iza leaned forward. “Neither of us is young anymore, Creb. What will happen to her when we’re gone to the world of the spirits? Do you want her to be traded from fire to fire, always a burden, always the lowest-ranked woman?”
Creb had worried about the same thing himself, but unable to come up with a solution, he put the thought out of his mind. “Do you really think you can train her, Iza?” he asked, still doubtful.
“I can start with that rabbit. I can let her take care of it, show her how. I’m sure she can learn, Creb, even without the memories. I can teach her. There are not so many different illnesses and injuries, she’s young enough, she can learn them, she doesn’t need to have a memory of them.”
“I will have to think about it, Iza,” Creb said.
The child was rocking and crooning to the rabbit. She saw Iza and Creb talking and remembered that she had often seen Creb make gestures calling on the spirits to help Iza’s healing magic work. She brought the small furry animal to the magician.
“Creb, will you ask the spirits to make the rabbit well?” she motioned after putting it down at his feet.
Mog-ur looked into her earnest face. He had never asked for help from spirits to heal an animal, and he felt a little foolish about it, but he didn’t have the heart to refuse her. He glanced around, then made a few quick gestures.
“Now it’s sure to get well,” Ayla gestured decisively, then seeing that Iza was through nursing, she asked, “Can I hold the baby, mother?” The rabbit was a warm and cuddly substitute, but not when she could hold the real thing.
“All right,” Iza said. “Be careful with her, the way I showed you.”
Ayla rocked and crooned to the tiny