The Land of Painted Caves - Jean M. Auel [165]
They reached Wood Valley and made their way across the small river that fed into The River. People were standing on the northern end of the stone front porch that faced southwest waiting for them as they started up the path. Someone had seen them coming and told the others. When they passed by the jutting corner that held the hearth of the signal fire, Ayla noticed it was still smoldering from recent use and wondered why.
Because the Ninth Cave had so many people, the number who had stayed back from the Summer Meeting, for one reason or another, was nearly as great as those who made up the total of some of the smaller Caves, though it was comparable in proportion to the other groups. The Ninth Cave had the greatest number of people of any of the Caves of the Zelandonii, including the Twenty-ninth and the Fifth, which had several stone shelters. Their abri was extraordinarily large and had plenty of room to comfortably house their large number, and more. In addition, the Ninth Cave had individuals who were very skilled in many ways and had much to offer. As a result they had a very high status among the Zelandonii. People wanted to join them, but they could only take in so many and tended to be selective, choosing those who reinforced their standing, though once someone was born to them or became a member, they were very seldom turned out.
All who had not gone to the Summer Meeting, who were able, came out to watch the travelers arrive, many of them gaping with surprise; they had never seen their Donier sitting on a seat that was pulled by Ayla’s horse. Ayla stopped to let Zelandoni step off the pole-drag, which she did with unruffled dignity. The First saw a middle-aged woman, Stelona, whom she knew to be level-headed and responsible, she had stayed at the Ninth Cave to care for her ailing mother.
“We were visiting the Fifth Cave and felt a strong earhquake. Did you feel it here, Stelona?” the First said.
“We felt it, and people were frightened, but it didn’t seem too bad. Some rocks fell, but mostly in the gathering area, not here. No one was hurt,” Stelona said, anticipating the Zelandoni’s next question.
“I’m glad to hear that. The Fifth Cave was not so lucky. A boy was severely injured when a large rock fell on his head. I’m afraid there’s little hope for him. He may already be walking the next world,” the Donier said. “Have you heard anything from the other Caves in this area, Stelona? The Third? The Eleventh? The Fourteenth?” the First said.
“Only smoke from their signal fires to let us know they were there and didn’t need any immediate help,” Stelona said.
“That’s good, but I think I’ll go see what damage, if any, they sustained,” the Donier said, then turned to look at Ayla and Jondalar. “Would you like to come along? And perhaps bring the horses? They could be useful if anyone does need help.”
“Today?” Jondalar asked.
“No, I was thinking of making a tour of our neighbors tomorrow morning.”
“I’d be glad to go with you,” Ayla said.
“Of course, I will, too,” Jondalar said.
Ayla and Jondalar unloaded Racer’s travois, except for their own things, and left the bundles on the ledge in front of the living section, then led the horses pulling the nearly empty pole-drags past the part of the shelter where most of the people lived. They lived at the the other end of the inhabited area, although the overhanging stone protected a much larger section, which was only used occasionally, except for the places they had made for the horses. As they walked along the front of the huge abri, they couldn’t help but notice some newly fallen pieces of stone, but nothing too large, nothing much bigger than pieces that sometimes split off by themselves for no reason that anyone could determine.
When they reached the large, flat stone near the edge of the front porch that Joharran and others sometimes used to stand on when they wanted to address a group, Ayla wondered when it fell and