The Land of Painted Caves - Jean M. Auel [239]
“That might upset Beladora. She is working on several weaving projects that she won’t want to relocate,” Kimeran said. “Although she could come here to help with the skinning and butchering, I suppose.”
“I think we can skin them here,” Ayla said, “then cut them into large pieces, and make several trips to get them back to our camp, and start drying some of the meat. Then we can take some of the fresh meat to the next Cave and ask for help to move the rest of it.”
“That would work,” Willamar said. “I am going to use the horns to make a couple of drinking cups.”
“I wouldn’t mind keeping some of the hooves to boil into glue to attach spear points to shafts,” Jondalar said. “Pitch is all right, but hooves and bones make a better glue.”
“And we can make new waterbags out of the stomachs, and use the intestines to save the fat,” Ayla added.
“Levela sometimes keeps chopped-up meat in cleaned-out intestines, too,” Jondecam said, “and waterproof coverings for hats and footwear can be made from them.”
Suddenly, Ayla realized how near they were to their destination. They would soon deliver Amelana to her Cave. Then they would go to see the very ancient Sacred Site that the First especially wanted Ayla to see; it wasn’t far away. After that, it was only a couple of days farther to Beladora’s people, according to Willamar. Then they would retrace their steps and return home.
It would be just as long a trek back as it was to get here, but as Ayla looked around, it seemed as though the Mother had provided them with the means to resupply all their needs for the return Journey. They had the materials they needed to replace their worn equipment, weapons, and clothing. There was more than enough meat to dry, and to make traveling cakes, which were essential for covering long distances in a hurry, by grinding up the dehydrated meat and adding fat and the dried berries. They had also dried roots and stems of certain vegetation, and common varieties of mushrooms that everyone knew.
“I’ve been here! I know this place!” Amelana said. She was so excited to see one familiar place, and then another, she couldn’t erase her excited smile. There was no stopping to rest now; pregnant or not, she could hardly wait to get home.
The small group of travelers approached a well-marked trail that wound around a sharp U-shaped bend in the river. An old floodplain had left a broad, level grassy field somewhat above the swiftly flowing water that ended abruptly at the base of a steep cliff. A nice place for horses to graze, Ayla thought.
The wide trail gradually traversed up the side of the cliff around brush and small trees, some of whose roots were used as steps. It was not easy going for the horses, especially pulling the pole-drags, but Ayla remembered how sure-footed Whinney was when she had climbed up to her cave in the valley where Ayla had found her.
The trail leveled out, perhaps assisted by people, Ayla thought, as the travelers came to a sheltering overhanging shelf in an area that was obviously well inhabited. Many people, who had been engaged in various activities, all stopped and stared at the strange procession that was advancing toward them, which included people and surprisingly docile horses. Whinney was wearing the halter that Jondalar had made for her. Ayla liked to use it when they were heading into unknown and possibly unsettling situations, but she was leading both Whinney and Gray, who were both hauling pole-drags. Whinney was pulling the First; Gray’s travois had a large load of bison meat. Willamar, his two assistants, and Amelana also accompanied them.
When the young woman among them who was obviously pregnant broke away from the visitors, it aroused attention. “Mother! Mother! It’s me!” she called out as she ran toward a woman of substantial proportions.
“Amelana? Amelana, is that you? What are you doing here?” the woman said.
“I came home, mother, and I’m so glad to see you,” Amelana cried.
She