by Jean M. Auel
To rescue Her child from his perilous plight.
She told of her grief. And the dark swirling thief.
The Mother was tired, She had to recover,
She loosened Her hold to Her luminous lover.
While She was sleeping, he fought the cold force,
And for a time drove it back to the source.
His spirit was strong. The encounter too long.
Her fair shining friend struggled hard, gave his best,
The conflict was bitter, the struggle hard pressed.
His vigilance waned as he closed his great eye,
Then darkness crept close, stole his light from the sky.
Her pale friend was tiring. His light was expiring.
When darkness was total, She woke with a cry.
The tenebrious void hid the light from the sky.
She joined in the conflict, was quick to defend,
And drove the dark shadow away from Her friend.
But the pale face of night. Let Her son out of sight.
Trapped by the whirlwind, Her bright fiery son,
Gave no warmth to the Earth, cold chaos had won.
The fertile green life was now ice and snow,
And a sharp piercing wind continued to blow.
The Earth was bereft. No green plants were left.
The Mother was weary, grieving and worn,
But She reached out again for the life She had borne.
She couldn't give up, She needed to strive,
For the glorious light of Her son to survive.
She continued the fight. To bring back the light.
And Her luminous friend was prepared to contest,
The thief who held captive the child of Her breast.
Together they fought for the son She adored.
Their efforts succeeded, his light was restored.
His energy burned. His brilliance returned.
But the bleak frigid dark craved his bright glowing heat.
The Mother defended and would not retreat.
The whirlwind pulled hard, She refused to let go,
She fought to a draw with Her dark swirling foe.
She held darkness at bay. But Her son was away.
When She fought the whirlwind and made chaos flee,
The light from Her son glowed with vitality.
When the Mother grew tired, the bleak void held sway,
And darkness returned at the end of the day.
She felt warmth from Her son. But neither had won.
The Great Mother lived with the pain in Her heart,
That She and Her son were forever apart.
She ached for the child that had been denied,
So She quickened once more from the life-force inside.
She was not reconciled. To the loss of Her child.
When She was ready, Her waters of birth,
Brought back the green life to the cold barren Earth.
And the tears of Her loss, abundantly spilled,
Made dew drops that sparkled and rainbows that thrilled.
Birth waters brought green. But Her tears could be seen.
With a thunderous roar Her stones split asunder,
And from the great cave that opened deep under,
She birthed once again from Her cavernous room,
And brought forth the Children of Earth from Her womb.
From the Mother forlorn, more children were born.
Each child was different, some were large and some small,
Some could walk and some fly, some could swim and some crawl.
But each form was perfect, each spirit complete,
Each one was a model whose shape could repeat.
The Mother was willing. The green earth was filling.
All the birds and the fish and the animals born,
Would not leave the Mother, this time, to mourn.
Each kind would live near the place of its birth,
And share the expanse of the Great Mother Earth.
Close to Her they would stay. They could not run away.
They all were Her children, they filled Her with pride,
But they used up the life-force She carried inside.
She had enough left for a last innovation,
A child who'd remember Who made the creation
A child who'd respect. And learn to protect.
First Woman was born full-grown and alive,
And given the Gifts she would need to survive.
Life was the First Gift, and like Mother Earth,
She woke to herself knowing life had great worth.
First Woman defined. The first of her kind.
Next was the Gift of Perception, of learning,
The desire to know, the Gift of Discerning,
First Woman was given the knowledge within,
That would help her to live, and pass on to her kin.
First Woman would know. How to learn, how to grow.
Her life-force near gone, The Mother was spent,
To pass on Life's Spirit had been Her intent.
She caused all of Her children to create life anew,
And Woman was blessed to bring forth life, too.
But Woman was lonely. She was the only.
The Mother remembered Her own loneliness,
The love of Her friend and his hovering caress.
With the last spark remaining, Her labor began,
To share life with Woman, She created First Man.
Again She was giving. One more was living.
To Woman and Man the Mother gave birth,
And then for their home, She gave them the Earth,
The water, the land, and all Her creation.
To use them with care was their obligation.
It was their home to use. But not to abuse.
For the Children of Earth the Mother provided,
The Gifts to survive, and then She decided,
To give them the Gift of Pleasure and sharing,
That honors the Mother with the joy of their pairing.
The Gifts are well-earned. When honor's returned.
The Mother was pleased with the pair She created,
She taught them to love and to care when they mated.
She made them desire to join with each other,
The Gift of their Pleasures came from the Mother.
Before She was through. Her children loved too.
Earth's Children were blessed. The Mother could rest.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
Ayla – of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, formerly Ayla of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi, Daughter of the Mammoth Hearth, Chosen by the Spirit of the Cave Lion, Protected by the Cave Bear, Friend of the horses, Whinney and Racer, and the four-legged hunter, Wolf
Jondalar – of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, Ayla's intended, son of former leader, brother of leader, called Jondé by his sister Folara
Zelandoni (Zolena) – Current Zelandoni, former lover of Jondalar
Thonolan – Jondalar's younger brother, killed on Journey
Folara – Jondalar's younger sister
Marthona – Jondalar's mother, former leader, also mother of Joharran, Folara
Willamar – Marthona's mate, Trade Master, Traveler
Tivonan – Willamar's apprentice trader
Joconan – Marthona's first mate, dead, man of Joharran's hearth
Joharran – Jondalar's older brother, leader of Ninth Cave
Proleva – Joharran's mate
Jaradal – Proleva's son, Joharran's hearth child
Levela – Proleva's younger sister, Jondecam's mate
Jondecam – Levela's mate, nephew of Kimeran and son of Zelandoni of the Second Cave
Velima – Мother of Proleva and Levela
Solaban – Hunter, adviser, and friend of Joharran
Ramara – Solaban's mate
Robenan – Ramara's son
Rushemar – Hunter, adviser, and friend of Joharran
&n
bsp; Salova – Rushemar's mate
Marsola – Salova's daughter
Marona – Jondalar's former girlfriend
Wylopa – Marona's cousin
Portula – Marona's friend
Lorava – Portula's younger sister
Ramila – Folara's friend
Galeya – Folara's friend
Charezal – New member of Ninth Cave, stranger to Jondalar
Shevonar – Man who dies while hunting
Relona – Shevonar's mate
Ranokol – Shevonar's brother
Brukeval – Jondalar's distant cousin (part Clan)
Madroman – Formerly called Ladroman, acolyte of Fifth Cave
Laramar – Man who makes barma
Tremeda – Laramar's mate
Bologan – Son of Tremeda, eldest, twelve
Lanoga – Daughter of Tremeda, ten
Lorala – Daughter of Tremeda, about six months
Stelona – Older woman who nurses Lorala
Thefona – Third Cave's best lookout, best vision
Thevola – Maker of rawhide panels
Lanidar – Boy of the Nineteenth Cave with deformed right arm, twelve
Mardena – Lanidar's mother
Denoda – Mardena's mother
Janida – Peridal's mate
Peridal – Janida's mate
Matagan – Young man who was gored by a woolly rhinoceros
Tishona – Marsheval's mate
Marsheval – Tishona's mate
Palidar – Tivonan's friend
Whinney – Ayla's horse, dun-yellow mare, Przwalski horse
Racer – Jondalar's horse, bay (brown) stallion, Cherski horse (rare)
Wolf – Ayla's wolf
LEADERS
Manvelar – Leader of Third Cave, Two Rivers Rock
Morizan – Son of Manvelar's mate, son of his hearth
Kareja – Leader of Eleventh Cave, River Place
Dorova – Kareja's mother
Brameval – Leader of Fourteenth Cave, Little Valley
Kimeran – Leader of Second Cave of the Zelandonii, Elder Hearth, brother of Zelandoni of the Second Cave, uncle of Jondecam
Denanna – Leader of the three holdings of the Twenty-ninth Cave, Three Rocks, and specifically of the South Holding, Reflection Rock
Tormaden – Leader of the Nineteenth Cave of the Zelandonii
ZELANDONIA
Zelandoni-of the Eleventh Cave, River Place, homosexual man
Marolan-man who is the Eleventh's friend and mate
Zelandoni-of the Third Cave, Two Rivers Rock, older man
Zelandoni-of the Fourteenth Cave, Little Valley, middle-aged woman
Zelandoni-of the Second Cave, Elder Hearth, older sister of Kimeran, mother of Jondecam
Zelandoni-of the Seventh Cave, Horsehead Rock, white-haired grandfather of Zelandoni Second, and Kimeran
Zelandoni-of the Nineteenth Cave, white-haired older woman
Zelandoni-of the Fifth Cave, Old Valley, middle-aged man
Zelandoni-of the Twenty-ninth Cave, Three Rocks, and mediator between the three assistant zelandonia and three leaders of the three separate locations of the Twenty-ninth Cave
Assistant Zelandoni of the Twenty-ninth Cave, Zelandoni of Reflection Rock (South Holding), middle-aged man
Assistant Zelandoni of the Twenty-ninth Cave, Zelandoni of South Face (North Holding), young man
Assistant Zelandoni of the Twenty-ninth Cave, Zelandoni of Summer Camp (West Holding), middle-aged woman
First Acolyte of the Second Cave (almost Zelandoni), young woman
Jonokol – First Acolyte of the Ninth Cave, artist, young man
Mikolan – Second Acolyte of the Fourteenth Cave, very young man
Mejera – Acolyte of the Third Cave (formerly Fourteenth Cave), very young woman
Madroman – Acolyte of the Fifth Cave (formerly Ladroman of the Ninth Cave), young man
FIRST CAVE OF THE LANZADONII (DALANAR'S CAVE)
Dalanar – Man of Jondalar's hearth, Marthona's former mate, founder of the Lanzadonii
Jerika – Dalanar's mate, co-founder of Lanzadonii
Ahnlay – Jerika's mother, died
Hochaman – Man of Jerika's hearth – Great Traveler
Joplaya – Jerika's daughter, daughter of Dalanar's hearth
Echozar – Joplaya's half-Clan mate
Andovan – Man who helped raise Echozar
Yoma – Echozar's mother, Clan woman
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am more grateful than I can say for the assistance of many people who have helped me to learn about the ancient world of the people who lived when glaciers advanced far south of today's margins and covered a quarter of the earth's surface. However, there are some details which I have chosen to use, particularly with regard to certain theories and the timing of certain sites and events, which may not be accepted by the majority of the professional community at this time. Some may be oversights but others were chosen deliberately, usually because it felt more accurate to this subjective novelist who must write about people with an understanding of human nature and logical motivation for their actions.
Most especially, I want to thank Dr. Jean-Philippe Rigaud, whom I met on my first research trip to Europe at his archeological excavation namedFlageolet in southwest France, once a hunting camp on a hillside that overlooked a broad grassy plain and the migrating Ice Age animals it supported. Though I was just an unknown American novelist, he took the time to explain some of the discoveries of that site, and he helped to arrange a visit to Lascaux Cave. I was brought to tears when I saw that sanctuary of prehistoric splendor painted by those early modern humans of Upper Paleolithic Europe, the Cro Magnons- work that can still stand against the finest of today.
Later, when we met again at La Micoque, a very early Neanderthal site, I began to get more of a sense of the unique time at the beginning of our prehistory when the first anatomically modern humans arrived in Europe and encountered the Neanderthals who had been living there since long before the last Ice Age. Because I wanted to understand the process that is used to learn about our ancient ancestors, my husband and I worked for a short time at Dr. Rigaud's more recent excavation, Grotte Seize. He also gave me many insights into the rich and expansive living site, which today is named Laugerie Haute, but that I have called the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii.
Dr. Rigaud has been of help throughout the series, but I appreciate his assistance with this book in particular. Before I started writing The Shelters of Stone, I took all the information I had gathered about the region and the way it was then and wrote the entire background setting in terms of the story, giving the sites my own names and describing the landscape so that when I needed the information it was easily available in my own words. I have asked many scientists and other specialists uncountable questions, but I never asked anyone to check my work before it was published. I have always taken full responsibility for the choices I made in selecting the details that were used in my books, for the way I decided to use them, and the imagination I added to them – and I still do. But because the setting for this novel is so well known, not only to archeologists and other professionals, but to the many people who have visited the region, I needed to be sure that my background details were as accurate as I could make them, so I did something I had never done before. I asked Dr. Rigaud, who knows the region and understands the archeology, to check over those many, many pages of background material for obvious errors. I didn't fully realize what a huge job I had asked of him, and I thank him profoundly for his time and efforts. He paid me the compliment of saying that the information was reasonably accurate, but he also told me some things I didn't know or hadn't understood, which I was able to correct and incorporate. Any mistakes remaining are entirely mine.
I am deeply grateful to another French archeologist, Dr. Jean Clottes, whom I met through his colleague, Dr. Rigaud. In Montignac, at the celebration for the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of Lasc
aux Cave, he was kind enough to translate for me in quiet tones the gist of some of the presentations given in French at the conference that was held in conjunction with the Lascaux event. Over the years since then we have met on both sides of the Atlantic, and I cannot thank him enough for his kindness and exceptional generosity with his time and assistance. He has guided me through many painted and engraved caves, especially in the region near the Pyrenees Mountains. Besides the fabulous caves on Count Begouen's property, I was particularly impressed with Gargas, which has so much more than the handprints for which it is so well known. I also appreciated more than I can say my second visit deep into Niaux Cave with him, which lasted about six hours and was a wonderful revelation partly because by then I had learned much more about the painted caves than I knew the first time. Though these places are not yet included in the story, the many discussions with him about concepts and ideas, especially regarding the reasons that the Cro Magnons may have had for decorating their caves and living sites, have been enlightening.
I made my first visit to the cave of Niaux in the foothills of the Pyrenees in 1982, for which I must thank Dr. Jean-Michel Belamy. I was indelibly impressed with Niaux, the animals painted on the walls of the Black Salon, the children's footprints, the beautifully painted horses deep inside the extensive cavern beyond the small lake, and much more. I was moved beyond words, for Dr. Belamy's more recent gift of the exceptional first edition of the first book about the cave of Niaux.
I feel gratitude beyond measure to Count Robert Begouen, who has protected and preserved the remarkable caves on his land, L'Enlene, Tuc d'Audoubert, and Trois Freres, and established a unique museum for the artifacts that have been so carefully excavated from them. I was overwhelmed with the two caves I saw, and am deeply grateful to him, and Dr. Clottes, for guiding my visits.
I also want to thank Dr. David Lewis-Williams, a gentle man with strong convictions, whose work with the Bushmen in Africa and the remarkable rock paintings of their ancestors has engendered profound and fascinating ideas and several books, one co-written with Dr. Clottes, The Shamans of Prehistory, which suggests that the ancient French cave painters may have had similar reasons for decorating the rock walls of their caves.
Thanks are also owed to Dr. Roy Larick for his helpfulness and especially for unlocking the protective metal door and showing me the beautiful horse head carved in deep relief on the wall in the lower cave at Commarque.