The Mammoth Hunters - Jean M. Auel [157]
The next instant she found herself caught by strong arms just as she reached the ground, and startled, looked at the mud-spattered, laughing face of Ranec.
“That’s one way to spread it down the side,” he said, steadying her, while she regained her composure. Then, still holding her, he added, “If you want to do it again, I’ll wait here for you.”
She felt warmth where he touched the cool skin of her arm, and she was entirely aware of his body pressing against her. His dark eyes, glistening and deep, were filled with a yearning that stirred an unbidden response from the core of her womanness. She trembled slightly, and felt her face flush before she looked down, and then moved away from his touch.
Ayla glanced at Jondalar, confirming what she expected to see. He was angry. His fists were clenched and his temples throbbed. She looked away quickly. She understood his anger a little more now, realizing it was an expression of his fear—fear of loss, fear of rejection—but she felt a touch of irritation at his reaction, nonetheless. She couldn’t help it that she slipped, and she was grateful that Ranec happened to be there to catch her. She flushed again, recalling her response to his lingering touch. She couldn’t help that either.
“Come on, Ayla,” Deegie said. “Talut says it’s enough and the sweatbaths are hot. Let’s go clean this mud off and get ready for the celebration. It’s for you.”
The two young women walked into the earthlodge through the new annex. As they reached the Mammoth Hearth, Ayla suddenly turned to the other young woman. “Deegie, what is sweatbath?”
“Haven’t you ever taken a sweatbath?”
“No.” Ayla shook her head.
“Oh, you’ll love it! You might as well take those muddy clothes off at the Aurochs Hearth. The women usually use the back sweatbath. The men like this one.” As she spoke, Deegie indicated an archway just beyond Manuy’s bed as they passed through the Reindeer Hearth and into the Crane Hearth.
“Is not for storage?”
“Did you think all the side rooms were for storage? I suppose you wouldn’t know, would you? You feel so much a part of us already, it’s hard to remember that you really haven’t been here that long.” She stopped then, and turned to look at Ayla. “I’m glad you will be one of us, I think you were meant to be.”
Ayla smiled shyly. “I am glad, too, and I am glad you are here, Deegie. Is nice to know woman … young … like me.”
Deegie smiled back. “I know. I just wish you had come sooner. I am going to be leaving after the summer. I almost hate to go. I want to be headwoman of my own Camp, like my mother, but I’m going to miss her, and you, and everyone.”
“How far away you go?”
“I don’t know. We haven’t decided yet,” Deegie said.
“Why go far? Why not build new lodge nearby?” Ayla asked.
“I don’t know. Most people don’t, but I guess I could. I didn’t think of that,” Deegie said, with a look of quizzical surprise. Then, as they reached the last hearth in the earthlodge, she added, “Take off those dirty things and just leave them in a pile there.”
Both Deegie and Ayla peeled off their muddy garments. Ayla could feel the warmth radiating from behind a drape of red leather suspended from a rather low mammoth tusk archway in the farthest back wall of the structure. Deegie ducked down and went in first. Ayla followed, but stopped a moment before entering with the drape held aside, trying to see in.
“Hurry in and close it! You’re letting the heat out!” a voice called from the steamy, dimly lit, somewhat smoky interior.
She quickly scuttled in, letting the drape fall in place behind her, but, rather than cold, she felt the heat assault her. Deegie led her down a rough stairway made of mammoth bones placed up against the dirt wall of a pit that was about three feet deep. Ayla stood at the bottom on a floor that was covered with a soft, deep-piled fur of some kind waiting for her eyes to adjust, then looked around. The space that had been excavated was about six feet wide and ten feet long. It consisted of two circular sections joined together,