The Plains of Passage - Jean M. Auel [304]
“That might be a good idea,” she agreed. “Maybe you should take Wolf with you. He’s good at finding and flushing out game, and he could warn you if anyone was near. I’m sure Epadoa and Attaroa’s Wolf Women are looking for us.”
“But if I take Wolf, who will warn you?” Jondalar said.
“Whinney will. She’ll know if strangers are approaching. But I would like to leave here as soon as this is done and head back to the S’Armunai settlement.”
“Will you be very long?” he asked, his forehead knotted deeper as he weighed his alternatives.
“Not too long, I hope, but I’m not used to cooking this much at one time, so I’m not sure.”
“Maybe I should wait, and go hunting later.”
“It’s up to you, but if you stay here, I could use more wood,” she said.
“I’ll get you some wood,” he decided. Looking around, he added, “And I’ll pack up everything you’re not using so we’ll be ready to go.”
It took Ayla longer than she expected, and around midmorning, Jondalar did take Wolf to survey the area, more to make sure that Epadoa was not nearby than to look for game. He was a little surprised at how eager the wolf was to accompany him … once Ayla told him to go. He had always thought of the animal as hers alone and never considered taking Wolf along with him. The animal turned out to be good company, and he did flush something, but Jondalar decided to let him make a meal of the rabbit by himself.
When they came back, Ayla handed Jondalar a large hot serving of the delicious mixture she had prepared for the Camp. Though they usually ate no more than twice a day, as soon as he saw the bowl piled high with food, he realized that he was very hungry. She took some herself and gave a little to Wolf as well.
It was just after noon before they were ready to leave. While the food was cooking, Ayla had completed two rather steep-sided bowl-shaped baskets, both of good size but one somewhat larger than the other, and both were filled with the thick, rich combination. She had even added some oily pine nuts from the cones of the stone pines. She knew with their diet of mostly lean meat, it was the richness of fats and oils that would be most appealing to the people of the Camp. She also knew, without entirely understanding why, that it was what they needed the most, especially in winter, for warmth and energy and, along with the grains, to make everyone feel fall and satisfied.
Ayla covered the heaping bowls with inverted shallow baskets used as lids, lifted them to Whinney’s back, and secured them in a roughly made holder of dry grass and willow withes that she had worked together quickly, since it would be used only once and then disposed of. Then they started back to the S’Armunai settlement, using a different route. On the way they discussed what to do with the animals once they reached Attaroa’s Camp.
“We can hide the horses in the woods by the river. Tie them to a tree and walk the rest of the way,” Jondalar suggested.
“I don’t want to tie them. If Attaroa’s hunters happened to find them, they’d be too easy to kill,” Ayla said. “If they are free, at least they have a chance to get away, and they’ll be able to come when we whistle. I would rather have them close by, where we can see them.”
“In that case, the field of dry grass next to the Camp might be a good place for them. I think they would stay there without being tied. They usually stay close by if we put them where they have something to graze,” Jondalar said. “And it would make a big impression on Attaroa and the S’Armunai if we both ride horses into the Camp. If they’re like everyone else we’ve met, the S’Armunai are probably a little afraid of people who can control horses. They all think it has to do with spirits or magical powers or something, but as long as they’re afraid, it gives us an edge. With only two of us, we need every advantage we can get.”
“That’s true,” Ayla said, frowning, both because of her concerns for them and the animals, and because she hated the thought of taking advantage of the unfounded fears