The Plains of Passage - Jean M. Auel [457]
“I think you are planning a feast,” Jondalar said.
“It’s not a bad idea. I saw a nest that I want to go back and check for eggs,” Ayla said.
“Then what do you think of this?” he said, holding up a trout. Ayla smiled with delight. “I thought I saw it in the stream, sharpened a green stick into a gorge, and dug up a worm to thread around it. This fish bit so fast, it was almost like it was waiting for me.”
“Definitely the makings for a feast!”
“But it can wait, can’t it?” Jondalar said. “I think I’d rather see a hot bath right now.” His blue eyes filled with his thoughts of her and aroused her response.
“A wonderful idea,” she said, emptying her tunic beside the firepit, then walking into his arms.
They sat side by side, a little back from the fire, feeling replete, satisfied, and entirely relaxed, watching sparks dance an arabesque and disappear into the night. Wolf was dozing nearby. Suddenly he raised his head and cocked his ears toward the dark plateau. They heard a loud, full-throated neigh, but it was not familiar. Then the mare squealed, and Racer whinnied.
“There’s a strange horse in the field,” Ayla said, jumping up. It was a moonless night and hard to see.
“You’ll never find your way out there tonight. Let me try to find something to make a torch.”
Whinney squealed again, the strange horse neighed, and they heard hoofbeats racing off into the night.
“That does it,” Jondalar said. “It’s too late tonight. I think she’s gone. A horse has captured her again.”
“This time, I think she left because she wanted to. I thought she seemed nervous; I should have paid closer attention,” Ayla said. “It’s her season, Jondalar. I’m sure that was a stallion, and I think Racer went with them. He’s too young, yet, but I’m sure other mares are in season, too, and he would be drawn to them.”
“It’s too dark to look for them now, but I do know this region. We can track them in the morning.”
“The last time, I took her out, and the brown stallion came for her. She came back to me on her own, and later, she had Racer. I think she’s out starting a baby again,” Ayla said, sitting down by the fire. She looked at Jondalar and grinned. “It seems right, both of us pregnant at the same time.”
It took a moment for her statement to register. “Both of you … pregnant … at the same time? Ayla! Are you saying you are pregnant? Are you going to have a baby?”
“Yes,” she said, nodding. “I am going to have your baby, Jondalar.”
“My baby? You’re going to have my baby? Ayla! Ayla.” He picked her up, spun her around, and then kissed her. “Are you sure? I mean, are you sure you are going to have a baby? The spirit could have come from one of the men at Dalanar’s Cave, or even the Losadunai.… That’s all right, if that’s what the Mother wants.”
“I passed my moon time without bleeding, and I feel pregnant. I’ve even been getting a little sick in the morning. Not bad, though. I think we started it when we got down off the glacier,” Ayla said. “And it is your baby, Jondalar, I’m sure of it. It can’t be anyone else’s. Started with your essence. The essence of your manhood.”
“My baby?” he said, a look of soft wonder in his eyes. He put his hand on her stomach. “You have my baby in there? I’ve wanted that so much,” he said, looking away and blinking his eyes. “Do you know, I even asked the Mother for it.”
“Didn’t you tell me the Mother always gives you what you ask for, Jondalar?” She smiled with his happiness, and her own. “Tell me, did you ask for a boy or a girl?”
“Just a baby, Ayla. It doesn’t matter which.”
“Then you won’t mind if I hope for a girl this time?”
He shook his head. “Just your baby, and maybe, mine.”
“The trouble with tracking horses on foot is that they can travel so much faster than we can,” Ayla said.
“But