The Plains of Passage - Jean M. Auel [381]
The people began talking, rapidly and excitedly, full of wonder, and it relieved the tension Ayla had built with the suspense. Within moments—to the Cave it seemed almost instantaneous—a fire had been kindled. Ayla heard a few of the comments. “How did she do it?” “How could anyone start a fire so fast?” A second fire was kindled from the first in the Ceremonial Hearth; then the One Who Served the Mother stood between the two areas of glowing flames and spoke.
“Most people who have not seen it do not believe that stones will burn, unless we have one to show, but burning stones are the Great Earth Mother’s gift to the Losadunai. Our visitors have also been given a gift, a firestone; a stone that will make a fire-starting spark when it is struck with a piece of flint. Ayla and Jondalar are willing to give us a piece of firestone, not only to use, but also so that we will recognize it if we find any. In return, they want enough food and other supplies to get them over the glacier,” Losaduna said.
“I’ve already promised that,” Laduni said. “Jondalar has a Future Claim on me, and that’s what he asked for—not that it’s much of a claim. We’d give them food and supplies anyway.” There was a refrain of agreement from the gathering.
Jondalar knew that the Losadunai would have given them food, just as Ayla and he would have given the Cave a firestone, but he didn’t want them to feel sorry later about giving up food supplies that could leave them stretched thin if spring and the new growing season came late. He wanted them to feel they were getting the best of a good bargain, and he wanted something else. He stood up then.
“We have given Losaduna a firestone for everyone’s use,” he said, “but there is more to my claim than it seems. We need more than food and supplies for ourselves. We don’t travel alone. Our companions are two horses and a wolf, and we need help to get them across the ice. We will need food for ourselves, and for them, but even more important, we will need water. If it were just Ayla and me, we could wear a waterbag full of snow or ice under our tunics next to our skin to melt enough water for us, and maybe for Wolf, but horses drink a lot of water. We can’t melt enough for them that way. I will tell you the truth; we need to find a way to carry or melt enough water to get us all across the glacier.”
There was a chorus of voices full of suggestions and ideas, but Laduni quieted them. “Let’s think about it and meet tomorrow with suggestions. Tonight is Festival.”
Jondalar and Ayla had already brought delicious excitement and mystery to enliven the usually quiet winter months of the Cave, and to give them stories to tell at Summer Meetings. Now there was the gift of the firestone and, as a bonus, the challenge of solving a unique problem, a fascinating practical and intellectual puzzle that would give them all a chance to stretch their mental muscles. The travelers would have willing and eager assistance.
Madenia had come to the Ceremonial Hearth to see the firestone demonstration, and Jondalar could hardly help noticing that she had been watching him closely. He had smiled at her several times, to which she had responded by blushing and looking away. He walked over to her as the gathering was breaking up and leaving the Ceremonial Hearth.
“Hello, Madenia,” he said. “What did you think of the firestone?”
He felt the attraction he often had for shy young women before their First Rites, who didn’t know what to expect and were a little afraid, especially those he had been called upon to introduce to the Mother’s Gift of Pleasures. He had always enjoyed showing them Her Gift during their First Rites, and he had a special feeling for it, which was why he was called upon so often. Madenia’s fear was well grounded, not the amorphous