The Land of Painted Caves - Jean M. Auel [138]
Because the Summer Meeting was still going on, not many people were at the West Holding of the Twenty-ninth Cave. Most of those who stayed back were old, or sick, and unable to make the trip, plus the ones who stayed to care for them. In rare cases, someone who was working on something that couldn’t be interrupted or could only be done in summer also stayed. Those who were at West Holding welcomed the travelers enthusiastically. They seldom had visitors this early in the summer and since they were coming from the Summer Meeting, they could bring news. In addition, the visitors themselves made news wherever they went: Jondalar, the returned traveler, and his foreign woman and her baby, and the wolf and horses, and the First Among Those Who Served The Great Earth Mother. The travelers were especially welcomed by those who were ill or failing, because of who they were: healers, and at least one who was acknowledged as among the best of their people.
The Ninth Cave had always had a particularly good relationship with the people of Three Rocks who lived at the place called Summer Camp. Jondalar recalled going there when he was a boy to help harvest the nuts that grew so abundantly in their vicinity. Whoever was invited to help harvest always got a share of the nuts, and they didn’t invite everyone, but they always invited the other two Caves of Three Rocks, and the Ninth Cave.
A young woman with light blond hair and pale skin stepped out of a dwelling that was under the abri and looked at them with surprise. “What are you doing here?” she said, then caught herself. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be so rude. It’s just such a surprise to see you here. I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
Ayla thought she looked sad and drawn; a darkness circled her eyes.
Zelandoni knew it was the Acolyte to the Zelandoni of the West Holding of the Twenty-ninth Cave. “Don’t be sorry,” said the First. “I know we caught you by surprise. I am taking Ayla on her first Donier Tour. Let me introduce you.” The First went through an abbreviated version of a formal introduction, then said, “I’m wondering why an acolyte would stay behind. Is someone especially sick here?”
“Perhaps no more than others here who are close to the Next World, but she’s my mother,” the Acolyte said. Zelandoni nodded with understanding.
“If you like, we can take a look at her,” the One Who Was First said.
“I’d be grateful if you would, but I didn’t want to ask. My Zelandoni seemed to help her when she was here, and she did give me some instructions, but mother seems to have gotten worse. She’s much more uncomfortable, but I can’t seem to help her,” the young acolyte said.
Ayla remembered meeting the Zelandoni of Summer Camp the year before. Since each one of the Caves of Three Rocks had a Zelandoni who lived with them, it had been concluded that if all three had a deciding voice at the meetings of the zelandonia, it would give the Twenty-ninth Cave too much influence. Therefore, a fourth Donier was chosen to represent the entire group, but she functioned more as a mediator, not only between the three other Zelandonii, but also between the three separate leaders, and it took much time and a great deal of skill with people. The other three Doniers were called colleagues. Ayla remembered the Zelandoni of Summer Camp as a middle-aged woman, nearly as fat as the One Who Was First, but rather than tall, she was quite short and seemed warm and motherly. Her title was Complementary Zelandoni of the West Holding of the Twenty-ninth Cave, although she was a full Zelandoni, and accorded the complete respect and status of her position.
The young acolyte seemed relieved to have someone else look at her mother, especially someone of such prominence and knowledge,