The Land of Painted Caves - Jean M. Auel [207]
One of the spotters came running into the zelandonia lodge. “Wait until you see what is coming this way!” he blurted out.
“What?” said the Zelandoni of the Seventh Cave of South Land Zelandonii.
“People, but that’s not all.”
“All the Caves are here,” another Zelandoni said.
“Then they must be visitors,” the Seventh said.
“Were we expecting any visitors this year?” the elder Zelandoni of the Fourth Cave of the South Land Zelandonii said as they all got up and headed toward the entryway.
“No, but that’s the way it is with visitors,” the Seventh said.
When the Zelandonia went out, the first thing they noticed heading their way was not the band of people, but the three horses, all of which were dragging some kind of contrivances; two also had people on their backs, one of them a man, another a child. A woman was walking in front of a horse dragging a different apparatus, and as they drew closer, movement beside the woman resolved itself into a wolf! Suddenly the Seventh started to recall stories from people who had stopped on the way back from a Journey north. They talked about a foreign woman and horses, and a wolf. Then it all came together.
“If I’m not mistaken,” the tall, bearded, brown-haired man said, loud enough for the rest of the Zelandonia to hear, “we are being paid a visit by the First Among Those Who Serve The Great Earth Mother, and her acolyte.” He added to an acolyte who was standing nearby, “Go and find as many of the leaders as you can and bring them here.” The young man set out in a run.
“Isn’t she supposed to be a large woman? Very impressive, I understand, but this would be a long way for a large woman to come,” said a rather plump Zelandoni.
“We shall see,” said the Seventh. Since the most Sacred Site in this region was near the Seventh Cave, the Zelandoni of the Seventh Cave usually, though not always, became the acknowledged leader of the local zelandonia.
More people started gathering around, and the leaders of various Caves began appearing. The leader of the Seventh Cave came and stood beside the Zelandoni of the Seventh. “Someone said the First is coming to visit?” she said.
“I believe so,” the Zelandoni said. “Do you remember those visitors we had a few years ago? The ones from far to the south?”
“Yes, I do. Now that you mention it, I think I remember that they said one of the northern Caves had a foreign woman living there who had great control over animals, horses in particular,” the woman said. The tattoos on the side of her forehead were on the opposite side of the ones on the forehead of the Zelandoni, but similar.
“They told me she was an acolyte of the First. They didn’t see much of her, at least not before they had to leave. Her mate was a Zelandonii man who went on a long Journey, five years or more, and brought her back home with him. He also had control of horses and even her child did, and they had a wolf, too. It looks to me like that’s who’s coming,” the Zelandoni explained. “I’m guessing the First may be with them.”
They have efficient spotters, the First said to herself as they pulled up to a rather large lodge, which she assumed was for the zelandonia. They seem to have gathered together quite a welcoming party. Ayla signaled Whinney to stop, and when the First was sure there would be no last-moment jerks, she stood up, and with great agility and grace the large woman stepped off the special travois. That’s why she can travel so far, the plump Zelandoni thought.
All the Zelandonia, leaders, and visitors exchanged formal greetings and identified themselves. The leaders of the Caves from which the young hunters originally came were also glad to