The Mammoth Hunters - Jean M. Auel [313]
On their last night of traveling, Ayla returned from a long walk with a handful of flowers. She noticed that a patch of ground near the fire had been smoothed out, and that Jondalar was making marks in it with the drawing knife. Tornec had a broken piece of ivory in his hand and a sharp knife out, and was studying marks.
“Here she is,” Jondalar said. “Ayla can tell you better than I can. I’m not sure I could find my way back to the valley from Lion Camp, and I know I couldn’t do it from here. We’ve taken too many turns and detours.”
“Jondalar was trying to make a map showing the way to the valley where you found the firestones,” Talut said.
“I’ve been looking ever since we left, and I haven’t seen one firestone,” Tornec added. “I’d like to make a trip there sometime and get some more. The ones we have won’t last forever. Mine already has a big groove in it.”
“I’m having trouble judging distance,” Jondalar said. “We traveled on horseback, so it’s hard to say how many days it would take on foot. And we explored a lot, stopped when we felt like it, didn’t follow any logical trail. I’m almost certain we went back across the river that runs through your valley, farther north. Maybe more than once. When we went back, it was almost winter, and many landmarks had changed.”
Ayla put down the flowers, and picked up the drawing knife, and tried to think about how to make a map to the valley. She started to make a line, and then hesitated.
“Don’t worry about trying to do it from here,” Talut encouraged. “Just think about how to get there from Lion Camp.”
Ayla crinkled her brow in concentration. “I know I could show you the way from Lion Camp,” she said, “but I still don’t understand maps very well. I don’t think I know how to draw one.”
“Well, don’t worry about it,” Talut said. “We don’t need a map, if you can show us the way. Maybe after we return from the Summer Meeting, we can make a trip there.” Then he motioned with his red-bearded chin toward the flowers. “What did you bring back this time, Ayla?”
“That’s what I want you to tell me. I know what they are, but I don’t know what you call them.”
“I know that red one is a geranium,” Talut said. “And this is poppy.”
“More flowers?” Deegie said, just joining them.
“Yes. Talut told me these two,” Ayla said.
“Let’s see, that’s heather, and that’s cushion pink,” Deegie said, identifying the other two, then sat down beside Ayla. “We’re almost there. Talut says sometime tomorrow. I can hardly wait. Tomorrow I’ll see Branag, and then it won’t be long until we are finally joined. I don’t even know-if I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”
Ayla smiled at her. Deegie was so excited it was hard not to share her enthusiasm, but it only served to remind her that she, too, would soon be joined. Jondalar’s talk about the valley and going back there had renewed her ache of longing for him. She had been watching him, trying not to make it obvious, and she had a distinct feeling that he had been observing her. She kept meeting his eyes briefly before both looked away.
“Oh, Ayla, there are so many people I want you to meet, and I’m so glad we are going to be joined at the same Matrimonial. That’s something we’ll always have together.”
Jondalar got up. “I need to go … and … uh … set up my sleeping roll,” he said, then hurried away.
Deegie watched Ayla’s eyes follow after him, and was almost certain she saw tears being held back. She shook her head. Ayla just didn’t seem like a woman who was about to join and establish a new hearth with a man she loved. There was no joy, no excitement. Something was