The Land of Painted Caves - Jean M. Auel [237]
“Will you, mother? Promise?” the child said.
“Yes, I promise.”
Jondalar and Ayla led their horses rather than riding them to make it easier for the rest to keep up. He found the huge ancient bison—six feet tall at the shoulder with gigantic horns, and with a coat that was a solid dark brown color—not far from where he had last seen them. It was a medium-size herd, but they didn’t want the whole herd. They were a small group and only needed a few animals.
There was some discussion about the best way to hunt the bison and it was decided to walk around the herd, carefully so as not to disturb them, and see what the nearby lay of the land was like. There were no convenient blind canyons to drive them into, but there was a dry riverbed with fairly high banks on both sides in one place.
“This could work,” Jondalar said, “if we build a fire at the lower end, but not until we drive them up close to it. So we’d have to get the fire ready to go and probably light it with a torch. Then we have to drive them this way.”
“Do you really think that would work? How are we going to get them going?”
“With the horses and Wolf, we can drive them,” Jondalar said. “Soon as they start into the narrow place, someone can start a fire at the end to slow them down. Others can wait on the high banks—probably best if you lie down on the ground—and when they’re in front of you, jump up and use your spear-throwers. We should all gather some wood and pile it up at the end. Then get some tinder and other quick-burning fire-starting material.”
“Sounds like you have it all worked out,” Tivonan said.
“I’ve been thinking about it, and talking over some possibilities with Kimeran and Jondecam,” Jondalar said. “On our Journey, with the horses and Wolf, we used to single out one or two animals from a herd. They’re used to helping us hunt.”
“That is how I learned to use the spear-thrower from horseback,” Ayla said. “We even got a mammoth once.”
“It sounds like a good plan to me,” Willamar said.
“And to me, but I’m not a good hunter,” Jonokol said. “I haven’t done much hunting, at least not until I came on this Donier Tour.”
“Maybe you haven’t done much before, but I think you are a more than adequate hunter now,” Palidar said.
The rest of them agreed.
“Then I’ve gotten an extra benefit from this trip. Not only am I getting to see some fascinating Sacred Sites, I’m learning to be a better hunter,” Jonokol said, grinning.
“Well, let’s start collecting dry grass and wood to burn,” Willamar said.
Ayla and Jondalar helped the group as they ranged out gathering wood and other burnable materials, and spread them across the end of the dry creek bed. At Willamar’s suggestion they added a row of tinder and kindling at the front edge to help carry the fire along the extended pile. Then they mounted their horses, signaled Wolf, and started circling the herd. Willamar then assigned his apprentices, Palidar and Tivonan, to start a fire at both sides when he gave the word.
“As soon as the fire is well established, you can get into position to use your spear-throwers,” Willamar said. The two young men nodded in agreement, and all of the group found places to wait.
And then they waited.
Each hunter was in his own silent space and listened in his own way. The two young men were excited, anticipating the hunt, and strained to hear Ayla and Jondalar rounding up the herd. Jonokol settled into a meditative state, which he had learned long ago kept him most alert and aware of what was going on around him. He heard Ayla and Jondalar shouting in the distance, but he also heard the loud ringing notes in slowing tempo and falling cadence of a kingfisher. He let his eyes search for the sound and caught a glimpse of the vibrant blue and chestnut-orange underparts of the fishing bird. Later, he