The Mammoth Hunters - Jean M. Auel [2]
Thanks again to Jim Riggs, anthropologist and instructor of “Aboriginal Life Skills” classes. I continue to use the information I learned from him.
I am indebted to three people who read a fat manuscript on short notice and offered helpful comments from a reader’s point of view: Karen Auel, who read a first draft and got caught up in it, and let me know I had a story; Doreen Gandy, poet and teacher, who squeezed the reading into the end of her school year without any loss of her usual insights; and Cathy Humble, who managed, again, to make astute observations.
Special thanks to Betty Prashker, my editor, whose perceptions I value, and whose commentary and suggestions were right on target.
Words are insufficient to thank Jean Naggar, friend, confidante, and literary agent beyond compare, who has continued to exceed my wildest expectations.
Sincere appreciation to the production and art departments of Crown Publishers, whose care and expert workmanship consistently turn out beautiful and well-made books.
I am grateful to Judith Wilkes, my secretary and office assistant, whose intelligence I have come to depend upon, and who eases the pressure of my increased volume of correspondence, so I can write.
And to Rav Auel.…
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Novels by Jean M. Auel
Acknowledgments
Maps
Lion Camp Earthlodge
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Excerpt from The Land of Painted Caves
Earth’s Children Series Sampler
An Interview with Jean M. Auel
About the Author
Lion Camp Earthlodge
ENTRY area—storage of fuel, implements, outer clothes
FIRST hearth—cooking hearth and space for gathering
SECOND—Lion Hearth
Talut—headman
Nezzie
Danug
Latie
Rugie
Rydag
THIRD— Fox Hearth
Wymez
Ranec
FOURTH—Mammoth Hearth—space for ceremonies, gathering, projects, visitors
Mamut—shaman
Ayla
Jondalar
FIFTH— Reindeer Hearth
Manuv
Tronie
Tornec
Nuvie
Hartal
SIXTH— Crane Hearth
Crozie
Fralie
Frebec
Crisavec
Tasher
(Bectie)
SEVENTH—Aurochs Hearth
Tulie—headwoman
Barzec
Deegie
Druwez
Brinan
Tusie
(Tarneg)
1
Trembling with fear, Ayla clung to the tall man beside her as she watched the strangers approach. Jondalar put his arm around her protectively, but she still shook.
He’s so big! Ayla thought, gaping at the man in the lead, the one with hair and beard the color of fire. She had never seen anyone so big. He even made Jondalar seem small, though the man who held her towered over most men. The red-haired man coming toward them was more than tall; he was huge, a bear of a man. His neck bulged, his chest could have filled out two ordinary men, his massive biceps matched most men’s thighs.
Ayla glanced at Jondalar and saw no fear in his face, but his smile was guarded. They were strangers, and in his long travels he had learned to be wary of strangers.
“I don’t recall seeing you before,” the big man said without preamble. “What Camp are you from?” He did not speak Jondalar’s language, Ayla noticed, but one of the others he had been teaching her.
“No Camp,” Jondalar said. “We are not Mamutoi.” He unclasped Ayla and took a step forward, holding out both hands, palms upward showing he was hiding nothing, in the greeting of friendliness. “I am Jondalar of the Zelandonii.”
The hands were not accepted. “Zelandonii? That’s a strange … Wait, weren’t there two foreign men staying with those river people that live to the west? It seems to me the name I heard was something like that.”
“Yes, my brother and I lived with