The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children 5)

“Is there a place to pass water nearby?” she asked quietly. “Or do we have to go back to the dwellings?”

Marthona smiled. “I was thinking about the same thing. There’s a patii to The River near the Standing Stone, a little steep near the top, but it goes to a place near the bank that is used mainly by the women. I’ll show you.” Wolf followed them, watched Ayla for a while, then discovered a scent more interesting and left to explore more of the bank of The River. On the way back, they passed Kareja heading down the path. They nodded to each other in mutual understanding.

After everything was cleared away, and Joharran made sure everyone was there, he stood up. It seemed to be a signal to resume discussions. Everyone looked at the leader of the Ninth Cave.

“Ayla,” Joharran said, “while we were eating, Kareja brought up a question. Jondalar says that he can communicate with flatheads, the Clan, as you call them, but not like you can. Do you know their language as well as he says?”

“Yes, I know the language,” Ayla said. “I was raised by them. I didn’t know any other language until I met Jondalar. At one time I must have, when I was very young, before I lost my own people, but I didn’t remember it at all.”

“But the place where you grew up was very far from here, a year’s travel, isn’t that right?” Joharran continued. Ayla nodded. “The language of people who live far away is not the same as ours. I cannot understand you when you and Jondalar speak Mamutoi. Even the Losadunai, who live much closer, have a different language. Some words are similar, and I can grasp a little, but I can’t communicate beyond simple concepts. I understand the language of these Clan people is not the same as ours, but how can you, who come from so far away, understand the language of the ones who live around here?”

“I understand your doubt,” Ayla said. “I wasn’t sure myself when we first met Guban and Yorga if I would be able to communicate with them. But language with words is different from the kind of language they use, not only because of the signs and signals, but because they have two languages.”

“What do you mean, two languages?” asked Zelandoni Who Was First.

“They have an ordinary common language that each clan uses every day among themselves,” Ayla explained. “Although they use hand signs and gestures for the most part, including postures and expressions, they also use some words, even though they can’t make all of the sounds that the Others can. Some clans speak words more than others. The common everyday language and words of Guban and Yorga were different from those of my clan, and I couldn’t understand them. But the Clan also has a special, formal language that they use to speak to the World of the Spirits, and to communicate with people from other clans who have a different ordinary language. It is very ancient and no words are used, except some personal names. That was the language I used.”

“Let me make sure I understand this,” Zelandoni said. “This Clan—we’re talking about flatheads here—not only have one language, they have two, and one of them is mutually intelligible with any other flathead, even someone who lives a year’s Journey away?”

“It is rather hard to believe, isn’t it?” Jondalar said with a wide grin. “But it is true.”

Zelandoni shook her head. The rest looked just as skeptical.

“It’s a very ancient language, and people of the Clan have very long memories,” Ayla tried to explain. “They don’t forget anything.”

“I find it difficult to believe that they can really communicate much with only gestures and signs, anyway,” Brameval said.

“I feel the same way,” Kareja said. “As Joharran said about the Losadunai and the Zelandonii comprehending each other’s languages, perhaps we are talking about only simple concepts.”

“You gave a little demonstration in my home yesterday,” Marthona said. “Could you show all of us?”

“And if, as you say, Jondalar knows some of this language, perhaps he could translate for us,” Manvelar added. Everyone nodded.

Ayla stood up. She paused, gathering her thoughts. Then, with the motions of the ancient formal language, she signed, “This woman would greet the man Manvelar.” She spoke the name aloud, but her speech mannerism, her peculiar accent, was much stronger when she said it.

Jondalar translated. “Greetings Manvelar.”

“This woman would greet the man Joharran,” Ayla continued.

“And you, too, Joharran,” Jondalar said. They went through a few more simple statements, but he could tell they were not getting across the full extent of the comprehensive, if silent, language. He knew she could say more, but he couldn’t translate the full complexity.

“You’re just giving me basic signs, aren’t you, Ayla.”

“I don’t think you can translate more than basic signs. Jondalar. That’s all I taught the Lion Camp and you. Just enough so you could communicate with Rydag. I’m afraid the full language wouldn’t mean much to you,” Ayla said.

“When you showed us, Ayla,” Marthona said, “you did your own translation. I think that would be more clear.”

“Yes, why don’t you show Brameval and the others that way, by using both languages,” Jondalar suggested.

“All right, but what should I say?”

“Why don’t you tell us about your life with them,” Zelandoni suggested. “Do you remember when they first took you in?”

Jondalar smiled at the big woman. That was a good idea. It would not only show everyone the language, it would also show the compassion of the people, that they were wi

lling to take in an orphan child, even a strange orphan child. It would show that the Clan treated one of ours better than we treated them.

Ayla stood for a moment, gathering her thoughts; then in both the formal sign language of the Clan and the words of the Zelandonii, she began. “I don’t recall much of the beginning, but Iza often told me how she found me. They were looking for a new cave. There had been an earthquake, probably the one I still dream about. It destroyed their home, falling stones inside the cave killed several of Brun’s clan, and many things were damaged. They buried their dead, then left. Even if the cave was still there, it was unlucky to stay. The spirits of their totems were unhappy there and wanted them to leave. They were traveling quickly. They needed a new home soon, not just for themselves, but because their protective Spirits needed a place where they would be content.”