The Mammoth Hunters - Jean M. Auel [393]
She backed off, and smiled. “Danug! You are going to be such a man! I wish I were staying to see you grow into another Talut.”
“Maybe, when I’m older, I’ll make a long Journey and come to visit you!”
She hugged Wymez next, and she looked for Ranec, but he was not around. “I’m sorry, Wymez,” she said.
“I am sorry, too. I wanted you to stay with us. I would have liked to have seen the children you would have brought to his hearth. But Jondalar is a good man. May the Mother smile on your Journey.”
Ayla took Hartal from Tronie’s arms, and was delighted at his giggle. Then Manuv picked up Nuvie, for Ayla to kiss.
“She is here only because of you. I will not forget it, and neither will she,” Manuv said. Ayla embraced him, then Tronie and Tornec, too.
Frebec held Bectie, while Ayla made her last farewells to Fralie and the two boys. Then she embraced Crozie. She held back stiffly at first, though Ayla felt her shaking. Then the old woman clutched her, tight, and there was a tear glistening in her eye.
“Don’t forget how to make white leather,” she commanded.
“I won’t, and I have the tunic with me,” Ayla said, then with a sly smile, she added, “But, Crozie, from now on you should remember. Never play Knucklebones with a member of the Mammoth Hearth.”
Crozie looked at her in surprise, and then cackled a laugh, as Ayla turned to Frebec. Wolf had joined them, and Frebec rubbed behind his ears.
“I’m going to miss this animal,” he said.
“And this animal,” Ayla said as she gave him a hug, “is going to miss you!”
“I will miss you, too, Ayla,” he said.
Ayla found herself in the middle of a crush of people from the Aurochs Hearth, as all the children and Barzec crowded around her. Tarneg was there, too, with his woman. Deegie waited with Branag, and then the two young women collapsed in each other’s arms in a new freshet of wet eyes.
“In some ways, it’s harder to say goodbye to you than anyone, Deegie,” Ayla said. “I never had a friend like you, who was my age, and could understand me.”
“I know, Ayla. I can’t believe you’re leaving. Now, how are we going to know who has a baby first?”
Ayla backed away and looked at Deegie, critically, then smiled. “You will. You already have one started.”
“I wondered about it! Do you really think so?”
“Yes. I’m sure of it.”
Ayla noticed Vincavec was standing beside Tulie. She brushed his tattooed cheek lightly.
“You surprised me,” he said. “I didn’t know he would be the one. But then, everyone has weaknesses.” He gave Tulie a knowing glance.
Vincavec was displeased that his reading of the situation was so far off. He had totally discounted the tall blond man, and he was somewhat miffed at Tulie because she had accepted his matched pieces of amber knowing that it was not likely he would be getting what he was bargaining for, in spite of the fact that he had pushed them on her. He had been making pointed comments implying that she had accepted his amber because of her weakness for it, and that she didn’t give full value. Since they were ostensibly a gift, she couldn’t return them, and he was taking full value in his cutting remarks.
Tulie glanced at Vincavec before she approached Ayla, making sure he was watching, then she gave the young woman a warm and sincere embrace.
“I have something for you. I’m sure everyone will agree, these are perfect for you,” she said; then dropped two beautiful, matched pieces of amber in Ayla’s hand. “They will match your Matrimonial tunic. You might consider wearing them on your ears.”
“Oh, Tulie,” Ayla said. “This is too much. They are beautiful!”
“They are not too much, Ayla. They were meant for you,” Tulie said, looking back triumphantly at Vincavec.
Ayla noticed Barzec was smiling, too, and Nezzie was nodding her head in agreement.
It was hard for Jondalar to leave the Lion Camp, too. They had made him welcome, and he had grown to love them. Many of his goodbyes were tearful. The last person he spoke to was Mamut. They embraced and rubbed cheeks, then Ayla joined them. “I want to thank you,” Jondalar said. “I think you knew from