The shelters of stone - Jean M. Auel [213]
Proleva turned aside to hide a smile. Ayla did it, she thought. She’s got one commitment, the rest will come through, or at least most of them.
“You won’t have to go to extra effort. I have already talked to Lanoga. She will carry her sister to you, we can work out a routine. With many to help, it won’t be much drain on any one woman,” Ayla said.
“Well, bring her here,” the woman said. “Let’s see if she still knows how to nurse. How long has it been?”
“Since sometime in spring,” Ayla said. “Lanoga, take the baby to Stelona.”
Lanoga avoided looking directly at the other women as she headed toward the older woman, who had given the baby sleeping in her lap to the pregnant woman beside her. With experienced ease, Stelona presented her breast to the baby. She nuzzled around for a while, seemingly eager, but no longer familiar with the position, but when Lorala opened her mouth, the woman put her nipple in. She mouthed it for a while, then finally began to suckle.
“Well, she took hold,” Stelona said. There was a general sigh of relief and smiles all around.
“Thank you, Stelona,” Ayla said.
“I suppose it’s the least one can do. She does, after all, belong to the Ninth Cave,” Stelona said.
“She didn’t exactly shame them into it,” Proleva said, “but she made them feel that if they didn’t help, they would be worse than flatheads. Now, they can all feel virtuous about doing what is right.”
Joharran got up on an elbow and looked at his mate. “Would you feed Tremeda’s baby?” he asked.
Proleva rolled onto her side and pulled a cover up over her shoulder. “Of course I would,” she said, “if someone asked, but I admit, I might not have thought of working out a routine for everyone to share the task, and I’m ashamed that I didn’t know that Tremeda had gone dry. Ayla said Lanoga was capable, she just needs someone to teach her. Ayla’s right, the girl is capable. She kept that baby going, and she is more mother to the rest of those children than their mother, but a girl who can count only ten years should not have to be mother to that brood. She hasn’t even had her First Rites yet. The best thing would be if someone would adopt that baby. And maybe some of the other young ones, too,” Proleva said.
“Maybe you can find someone who’ll take them at the Summer Meeting,” Joharran said.
“I thought I would try, but I don’t think Tremeda is through having babies. The Mother tends to give more to those women who have had children, but She usually waits until a woman is through nursing one before giving her another. Now that she’s not nursing, Zelandoni says Tremeda will probably be pregnant again within a year.”
“Speaking of pregnant, how are you feeling?” Joharran asked, smiling at her with love and a look of delight.
“Good,” she said. “I seem to be past the sickness, and J won’t be too big during the heat of summer. I think I will start telling people. Ayla already guessed.”
“I can’t see any sign yet, except you’re more beautiful,” he said, “if that’s possible.”
Proleva smiled warmly at her mate. “Ayla apologized for mentioning it before I was ready to announce it—it was just a slip. She said she knew the signs because she’s a medicine woman, which is what she sometimes calls a healer. She does seem to be a healer, but it’s hard to believe she could have learned so much from …”
“I know,” Joharran said. “Could the ones who raised her really be the same as the ones around here? If they are, it worries me. They have not been treated well, I wonder why they haven’t retaliated? And what would happen if they should decide to strike back someday?”
“I don’t think it’s something we have to worry about now,” Proleva said, “and I’m sure we’ll learn more about them as we get to know Ayla better.” She paused, turning her head toward Jaradal’s sleeping place, and listened. She had heard a sound, but he was quiet now. Probably a dream, she thought, and turned back to her mate. “You know, they want to make her a Zelandonii