The Mammoth Hunters - Jean M. Auel [376]
“What happened, Nezzie?” She fought to hold back tears, for his sake.
“I wish I knew. He was fine, then all of a sudden he got this pain. I tried to do everything you told me, gave him the medicine. Nothing helped,” Nezzie said.
Ayla felt a faint touch on her arm. “I glad you come,” the boy signed.
Where had she seen that before? That struggle to make signs with a body too weak to move? Iza. That’s how she was when she died. Ayla had just returned from a long trek then, and a long stay at the Clan Gathering. But she just went to hunt mammoth this time. They weren’t gone very long. What happened to Rydag? How did he get so sick so fast? Had it been coming up on him slowly all along?
“You sent Wolf, didn’t you?” Ayla asked.
“I know he find,” the boy motioned. “Wolf smart.”
Rydag closed his eyes then, and Ayla had to turn her head aside, and close her eyes. It hurt to see the way he labored to breathe, to see his pain.
“When did you last have your medicine?” Ayla asked, when he opened his eyes and she could look at him.
Rydag shook his head slightly. “Not help. Nothing help.”
“What do you mean, nothing will help? You’re not a medicine woman. How do you know? I’m the one who knows that,” Ayla said, trying to sound firm and positive.
He shook his head slightly again. “I know.”
“Well, I’m going to examine you, but first, I’m going to get you some medicine,” Ayla said, but it was more that she was afraid she would break down right there. He touched her hand as she started to leave.
“Not go.” He closed his eyes again, and she watched him struggle for one more tortured breath, and then another, powerless to do anything. “Wolf here?” he finally signed.
Ayla whistled, and whoever it was outside that had been trying to keep Wolf from going in the tent, suddenly found it impossible. He was there, jumping up on the boy’s bed, trying to lick his face. Rydag smiled. It was almost more than Ayla could stand, that smile on a Clan face that was so uniquely Rydag. The rambunctious young animal could be too much. Ayla motioned him down.
“I send Wolf. Want Ayla,” Rydag motioned again. “I want …”He didn’t seem to know the word in signs.
“What is it you want, Rydag?” Ayla encouraged.
“He tried to tell me,” Nezzie said. “But I couldn’t understand him. I hope you can. It seems so important to him.”
Rydag closed his eyes and wrinkled his brow, and Ayla had the feeling he was trying to remember something.
“Durc lucky. He … belongs. Ayla, I want … mog-ur.”
He was trying so hard, and it was taking so much out of him, but all Ayla could do was try to understand. “Mog-ur?” The sign was silent. “You mean a man of the spirit world?” Ayla said, aloud.
Rydag nodded, encouraged. But the expression on Nezzie’s face was unfathomable. “Is that what he’s been trying to say?” the woman asked.
“Yes, I think so,” Ayla said. “Does that help?”
Nezzie nodded, a short, clipped nod of anger. “I know what he wants. He doesn’t want to be an animal, he wants to go to the spirit world. He wants to be buried … like a person.”
Rydag was nodding now, agreeing.
“Of course,” Ayla said. “He is a person.” She looked perplexed.
“No. He’s not. He was never numbered among the Mamutoi. They wouldn’t accept him. They said he was an animal,” Nezzie said.
“You mean he cannot have a burial? He cannot walk the spirit world? Who says he can’t?” Ayla’s eyes blazed with fury.
“The Mammoth Hearth,” Nezzie said. “They won’t allow it.”
“Well, am I not the daughter of the Mammoth Hearth? I will allow it!” Ayla stated.
“It won’t do any good. Mamut would, too. The Mammoth Hearth has to agree, and they won’t agree,” Nezzie said.
Rydag had been listening, hopeful, but now his hope was dimming. Ayla saw his expression, his disappointment, and was more angry than she had ever been.
“The Mammoth