Johorran looked on in satisfaction, "such a gift the mother had given us" he said to himself, "and who would have ever believed it would come through Tremeda." "This is really good" he encouraged his people, "we will probably still have to gather food, especially coming up to winter, but this way we can produce a lot of our food ourselves, though we will still have to hunt…..", a thought unexpectedly came to him, looking for Ayla he shouted "Ayla, I have just had an idea."
Ayla thought it was a brilliant idea, she had already done it with her horses, and Wolf and Baby of course, but could they tame other animals, and raise generations and generations of them? It was an idea, they would never have to hunt again, they could grow and raise all their food, stopping in thought for a moment she realised something with distress, "the mother is weaning us off her," she whispered, "soon we will be self sufficient, and like a child grows up, and leaves its mother, we will mature and not need her any more" it was a sad thought, one she felt she must keep to herself, because the mother had started this momentum, and it was what she wanted.
--
Bologan kicked a clump of mud on the ground, watching as the rest of his family dug in the garden. "What a stupid idea" he grumbled, he'd tried planting a spear, but when he had gone back the next day, all he found was a dirt covered spear.
Bending down to clean the mud of his boots, he said "they won't grow anything; it's just a massive waste of time."
Looking up at the sound of jubilant cheering, he walked nearer the group to see them pulling vegetables out of the ground, vegetables that were fresh and full and large, not the shrivelled winter survived ones that had gone into the ground.
Moving closer, to the edge of the garden, he bent down and started digging with his hands, finding something red in the ground he hooked his fingers underneath it, and heaved it out, it was a radish.
"That's a first-rate radish you got there son" he heard his mother say.
Turning around, the radish still in his hand, he grinned, "it worked, it actually worked, you grew vegetables, mother" he grinned.
Tremeda smiled, and sent a prayer of thankfulness to the mother.
--
Johorran holding Tremeda's carrots and Bologan's radish high above his head yelled "we have much to honour the mother about; so we will have a celebration tonight."
Everyone whispered in excitement, they hadn't had a party for ages, it had been a long cold hard winter, what with Tremeda's troubles and all, but now they were through that and Tremeda had shown herself to be a truly remarkable woman, she had brought so much to the cave, hopefully an endless supply of food.
But some grumbled, "how can we have a mother's celebration without barma" said a particularly ugly man, "no woman will want to share pleasures with me unless they are drunk."
The five reprobates made their plans.
"How are we going to celebrate without barma" Solaban asked, "especially now wine is also banned?"
"What about if we put it in that juice Ralena makes, "Brukeval suggested, "no one will ever know, and we can have all the beauties we want."
They all laughed, eyes glinting evilly with anticipation.
--
The party was at full swing, at the food platform, pride of place was reserved for Tremeda's vegetables. They had been roasted in a ground oven, boiled in water, fried in fat and some were just freshly washed. Surrounding them were dishes that had been provided by other members of the cave, Marthona's cakes, Ayla's ptarmigans; Folara's baked apples, Solova's stews, Ralena's juice and many others.
Holding a cup of Ralena's juice, Lanoga said to her new friend, "this juice tastes a bit funny."
Galona, her new friend reached for the cup and sipped a small amount of the juice, "it does a bit wierd, she must have added something new" she explained the taste away, giving the cup back to Lanoga.
"It must be okay" agreed Lanoga "half the cave is drinking it" she said looking around.
Once everyone had had their fill of food, they all sat down, nursing their drinks.
"Tremeda" asked Johorran, "will you tell us the story of how you got the idea for your garden."
Tremeda nodded, and told them everything, stopping every so often as the raucous laughter at one end of the cave got too loud, the laughter of those who were with the secret barma makers.
--
The next morning, Ayla got out of bed, kissed her mate, and went to relieve herself. Stopping to wash herself in the river, she walked back into the cave, and was surprised to hear groaning in many hearths, the sort of moaning that she usually heard after a celebration that had flowed with barma; she frowned in worry.
Getting to her own hearth, she heard Jondalar stumbling about, grumbling about his head.
"Jondalar" she cried, "are you okay?"
Sitting down heavily, he put his head in his hand, and moaned "my head is killing me."
Ayla pursed her lips, "I will make you some tea for that" she said, going to her otter skin bag and pulling out the ingredients for her barma cure.
Once she had made it, after handing her mate a steaming cup of the pain killing brew, she went to look for Zelendoni.
Seeing others with painful expressions on their faces, she told them to go to her hearth and ask Jondalar for some of the tea she had made him; she had made enough for the whole of the cave.
After scratching the hide curtain surrounding Zelendoni's shelter, she walked in to find the woman meditating. Sighing she back away, but Zelendoni hearing her, opened her eyes, and said, "Can I help you Ayla?"
"I think the ban of barma has been broken" she told her and explained about the symptoms in the cave.
"I was afraid this might happen" stated Zelendoni enigmatically, sighing, she stood up, "but there were no barma skins at the gathering, not that I saw."
"No, I didn't see any either, but…" she thought for a moment, "Some of the young people were acting very strange last night."
Agreeing Zelendoni looked confused, "then how?"
All of a sudden, a head popped around the curtain, "I heard you talking, and thought it would be okay to come in" said Johorran, he was holding a cup, I know why everyone is feeling so ill, it was Ralena's juice, it was spiked."
Johorran held out the cup to Zelendoni, she took it, tasted the juice and nodded, passing it to Ayla.
Ayla put the cup to her lips, and nervously tasted it; it tasted strange, bitter, like barma, abruptly putting it down, she rushed out of the shelter, calling behind her "I need to check something."
--
Rushing over to a hearth, she didn't bother indicating she was there, walking in, she looked around, "Tremeda, are you okay?" she asked.
Tremeda looked at her with surprise; she had just been to Ayla's hearth to get a cup of the tea for Lanoga who was complaining of a terrible headache. "I'm fine" she said "but my daughter isn't feeling too good."
Looking at the girl, she said, "Lanoga, did you drink the juice last night?"
Nodding the girl got up and hurried to the night basket, and was promptly sick in it, her mother followed her, holding back her hair.
Looking up at Ayla, Tremeda asked, what was wrong with the juice?"
"Something was put in it, it was literally laced it with barma."
Tremeda looked at her startled, and an incredible sad look came over her face, "how could someone do such a malignant thing?" she asked.
Ayla shook her head, she didn't know.
--
"We have a problem" Johorran stood in front of his people, sternly looking at them, "the ban on barma has been broken, someone put it in Ralena's juice."
Everyone gasped, and Ralena looked horrified, glancing around her she settled her gaze on the barma five. They had been acting weirdly last night, and had been surrounded by a bevy of strangely behaving beauties, ones who didn't want to know them this morning. Stepping forward, she pointed a finger at them, and said "I think it was Brukeval and his gang."
Everyone shifted their gaze to stare at them, cringing under the glare, Timolar, ever the cowardly sort, shrieked their guilt and told them about the plan.
Charezal, punched him and said "thanks a lot, Timolar, you always were a wimp."
"Where have you been making it?" demanded Zelendoni.
The five were quiet, but Rushemar said "there's a small cave nearby, I bet they've been producing it there" looking at the guilty faces, "look at them, I'm sure we will find the barma there."
"I want you to get rid of it" Zelendoni told them.
Johorran's people were gathered outside the cave, chattering loudly. It was now summer and they were about to set off for the summer meeting that would be at the second cave.
Everyone, except the young children, was carrying a large pack filled with tents and clothes and cooking implements, they watched Zelendoni put a doni at the entrance to their home, and say a prayer to the Mother, and then they were off.
--
Johorran lead the way, he started talking to Jondecam, a young man from the cave.
"This will be a special meeting for you" he was saying, stepping over a tree route, "with it being at your old home cave."
"He's looking forward to seeing his mother and her mate, the zelendoni of the second cave" Lavela, mate of Jondecam, informed the leader "plus he has really missed his brothers and sisters."
"Indeed" Johorran said looking at the talkative female, turning back, he continued his discussion with the young man, "Your mother's mate is brother to the leader of the second cave isn't he?"
Jondecam nodded, and felt excitement well up inside him at he thought of seeing his old friends and family again.
The leader smiled at the obvious happiness exuding from him.
--
Ayla was also feeling happy; she loved the way that the sunlight cascaded through the treas. It was a glorious summer day, and she started to whistle a contented tune.
Birds soon started to flock down towards her, deceived by what sounded like bird song, seeing them, Ayla changed the tune and was surprised but tremendously contented when they started singing the same harmony back.
--
Tremeda was worried, how would the Zelendonii react when they saw how much she had changed, would they recognise her, and what about the barma drinkers she and Laramar had always drank with, catching up to Ayla, she offered her up a tight smile.
I'm troubled" she said, "people are going to be so shocked that poor drunk Tremeda has changed her life around, especially when they learn about the garden."
"It will be hard" started Ayla, "many might try to encourage you to drink."
That's partly what I am worried about, "what if they get me drinking again."
"Tremeda," Ayla looked at her gravely "if you start drinking again, then you will go back to the way you used to be, and then all the suffering you have coped with, will be for nothing."
Tremeda agreed with trepidation.
"Next time you could die, do you understand me? You just have to be strong, strong and focused." She commanded.
"Mother" Lanoga has seen how scared her mother was looking, and had hurried after her, "mother, you will be okay, we will be with you."
Tremeda smiled at the girl, "no, the young woman" she reminded herself, for her daughter had started to bleed the very night before. "Thank you Lanoga, that will make it so much easier to cope with" noticing Lanoga was carrying a squirming Lorala, she said "here, give me Lorala, I would like to carry her for a while."
Lanoga was happy to pass her baby sister to her mother.
Receiving the child into her arms, she put her on her shoulders, and Lorala grabbed handfuls of hair to steady herself.
"Mama" she said.
The whole group of travelling people smiled at this, they were so proud of how Tremeda had changed, she was now a worthy member of their cave, and once everyone at the summer meeting got over her transformation, she would be an asset to their cave. With all this in mind, every member of the group decided then and there that they would support her and help her all the way.
--
Lanidar sat on a hill gazing out over the area, searching for the arrival of his intended mate, and the ninth cave. Spotting tiny figures on the horizon, he looked closer, he could see horses amongst the group, "It's the ninth cave" he yelled to anyone who could hear him, "they're here." Hunting for Lanoga amongst the crowd, he saw her, she was walking next to her wretch of a mother, "she'll get fleas being so close to her" he sneered.
She had seen him, and gulped; turning to her daughter she ordered her, "go, go to him" and watched as Lanoga started running at full steam straight into the arms of the young man.
Spotting others, her mouth suddenly became very dry, "I don't know if I can do this" she whimpered.
Ayla, spotting the other woman's discomfort put a soothing arm around her shoulders, "it will be okay" she told her.
Nodding, Tremeda with new resolve, continued walking, holding her head up high as they met the Zelendonii of other caves.
"Tremeda" slurred a voice.
She turned around, it was one of her old drinking partners, "this is the moment" she murmured to herself, smiling brightly, but eyes far too bright from the terror that held her spirit, she approached him, and held out her hands in greeting, "Norazal" she said, "how nice to see you?"
Norazal looked at her in confusion, he had never known her so in control of herself, where was the slovenly woman who he had drunkenly shared pleasures with at a mother's celebration last year? "Are you coming to the drinking tent?" he leered at her.
"No, Norazal, I don't drink barma anymore" she stated and hurried towards the way the ninth cave had gone, leaving behind a bemused man, with his jaw dropped down in astonishment.
--
"Have you heard the latest?" whispered a man in the drinking tent, "Norazal reckons Tremeda said she doesn't drink anymore."
"I will believe that when I see it" laughed another man.
"It's true" Brukeval had entered the tent, "and not only that, the ninth cave has banned barma because of her, no one is allowed to drink it."
The group gasped, and groaned as he told the story of the past year.
"And there is more" Brukeval continued, "I believe they intend to get the mothers' council, to ban it for all Zelendonii.
"No" they all shouted with anger, "we can't let that happen, what can we do?"
"We go to the council, and get them to lift the ban and punish the ninth cave for their arrogance." cried Brukeval, rallying his troops.
Tremeda was trembling in the ninth cave's tent, having just run in after all the sniggering and scorn she had faced when she had strolled around the meeting. Red faced, she remembered what had been shouted and sneered at her.
"Go away, Tremeda, I don't trade in barma."
"Look at her, she thinks she is so great now, she should know her place."
"Come and have a drink Tremeda, come on, you know you want to."
"Errrr, there's that horrible woman."
"Come away dear, you don't want to associate with the likes of her."
Tremeda felt hot tears fall down her face, and heard someone enter the tent, steeling herself for more comments, she thought "I can't even escape them in here" but looking around, she realised in was only Ayla, who had a look of deep sympathy on her face.
"Come on Tremeda" she instructed, "you can't stay in here, you have to be strong, it will get easier with time, soon they will find someone else to gossip about."
Standing up, she wiped her eyes and nodded, even at her drunkest moments, she had seen how quickly people forgot, when a juicier piece of gossip arrived.
--
"We want to see the mother's council" demanded a large group of drunken men and woman.
The woman who had been guarding the entrance of the tent, hurriedly whispered back at someone who the crowd could not see.
A woman stepped out to face them, "what do you want?" she challenged, worried at the size of the group.
"We want to report the ninth cave and their Zelendoni have acted wrongly, they have banned all barma drinking, and we want them punished, and of course the ban removed" shouted Charezal from amidst the group.
The woman sighed, "Okay, choose two representatives, probably best if they are from the supposed offending cave, and come back tonight, at dusk, and we will listen to your objections then."
Unhappily, the mob dispersed, annoyed that they would not be involved in a matter that affected them.
--
At dusk, Brukeval, and Charezal swaggered up to the tent, nearly rubbing their hands in glee at the trouble they would bring the ninth cave.
Walking into the meeting they were surprised to see that not only the mothers' council were there, but most of the Zelendonia as well as their Zelendoni, Johorran, Ayla, Marthona and many leaders from other caves.
"What are your charges against the ninth cave" rang out the voice of Tramalar, the Zelendoni of the second cave.
Brukeval looked in dismay at the man; his mate's son was mated to Lavela, of the ninth cave.
Puckering up his mouth in a frown Brukeval said "the ninth cave's leadership banned barma, without discussing it with anyone, not with the wise Zelendonia, or with the fair mothers' council, they just took it away" he managed to get some sucking up in the sentence, it never hurt to praise these people.
"Okay" Tramalar looked at Zelendoni, "could you tell us the whole story, start at the beginning."
The holy woman took a deep breathe and started to weave her tale, about Laramar's death, the ban, Tremeda's treatment and recovery, about how she had brought so much to the cave, how she had become a good mother, about the garden, and Ayla's medicine garden and about the idea of raising their own animals for food. She told them everything.
"Ayla, can you go and get Tremeda please, I want to hear her side of the story" said the Zelendoni of the Eleventh cave.
Ayla gracefully stood up, and hurried on her way.
Once she was gone, Johorran stepped forward, "just think of all the untapped gifts that could be out there" he instructed them "all being wasted in the bottom of a barma skin. If for only that then the ban should stand, and should apply to the whole of our people."
"No" screamed Brukeval, "you can't take from us the right to drink it."
"I love barma" continued Charezal "but you know the skills I bring, hunting, knapping, we should not be punished by being denied it, when it is others that have the problems."
"I agree" came a voice from within the Zelendonia, it was Madroman, who only that winter had been made the Zelendoni of the fifth cave after the old one had died, "not everyone drinks to obliteration, many enjoy the taste, or the feeling, should these go without, I say no, they should be allowed to have their barma, majority rule."
"But what about the addicted" said Denanna, the leader of the twenty ninth cave, "surely, if it is not banned, then they would still be able to drink it and could die like Laramar."
There were many murmurs of agreement at this statement.
Ayla walked back into the tent, followed by a nervous looking Tremeda.
"Arhh, Tremeda," said the eleventh cave's Zelendoni, "could you tell us your side of this banned barma story?"
Tremeda nodded, "at the last summer meeting, all I could think about was barma, my baby had nearly died because I wasn't feeding her, in fact I had already lost one child, but I didn't care, all I cared about was where I was going to get my next drink from, I would have sold my children if it had got me barma, and so would have Laramar, we didn't care, the home we lived in was fifthly, our children were malnourished and dirty, they only wore rags for clothes but it wasn't important, because I had the love of my life, my barma," she took a breath. "When Laramar died, all I could think about was that I wouldn't have any barma, but then Ayla and Zelendoni stepped up, when they realised what had killed my mate, they decided that barma should be banned, I must admit I did not like it, but I had no choice. But the worse of it was when they started to help wean me off it, I had such headaches, dreams, and loads of other symptoms, but Ayla gave me medicine and a small amount of wine each day, and soon I started to feel healthier than I had since I was a girl. And that is when I appreciated what a selfish and horrible life I had been leading and how my children had suffered, and I decided that I would make it up to them. So I started learning to cook and clean, and look after their needs, and then I had a dream from the mother, and she told me to plant winter stored vegetables. She told me everything to do, she even provided rain to water my finished garden, a name I learned from her. And just before we left for this summer meeting we had a celebration because of all the wonderful vegetables that had been grown. If I can offer skills and ideas to the Zelendoni, so can others, but if you don't ban barma, then everything will be the same, and many of the Zelendonii will drink their lives away."
Everyone had listened very closely to Tremeda's speech, numerous people had tears in their eyes, and a few eyes had gleamed at the idea for a garden.
Finally, after all the discussion was finished, they asked all members of the ninth cave to leave the tent.
Tramalar instructed them "come back in the dawn tomorrow, a decision will be made by then."
--
By the next morning it was all over the camp, barma was banned for all of the Zelendoni.
--
"Mother, I'm sorry but I can't stay, I know it is only a drink but it is a drink I love, by banning it they have taken away my rights, and I can't live in a society like that" the young man told his crying mother.
Many had decided to leave, to journey somewhere new, where they would be able to exercise their rights.
And so they left, some never to be seen again.
--
The barma five, along with other interested parties, met in secret, they told them all about the surreptitious barma making.
"We will do it again, and secretly trade it to others" murmured Brukeval, looking around him, but we must be very careful."
With that, they all went their own way.
--
"Okay, we will call this meeting to order" started Tramalar, the Zelendoni of the second cave, "we have had successful first rites, and the first matings of the summer have gone ahead, but what we really want to know is how the barma ban is going." He turned to the Zelendoni of the ninth cave, the first, and asked "Can we have your report"
"We have had some moans" began the Zelendoni, "and some of our young people have left on journeys" she thought for a moment "though many go on journeys anyway."
"What about the rumours of barma still being made and traded?" called a voice.
Frowning, the first continued, "yes, we have heard that gossip, and we are very close to finding who is responsible, I very much think it could be Brukeval, and his followers."
There were many murmurs of agreement in the group.
"Anyway, apart from those two problems, everything seems to have been going well, many of you Zelendonia have started treating addicted members of your cave, and with the mother's help, they will soon be free to lead more useful lives" she finished.
Tramalar nodded his head at this, "okay, well if that is all, I call this meeting to an end" he finished.
The Zelendonia started to shuffle towards the entrance of the tent, when there was the sound of running and then scratching at the hide of the door and a desperate looking man appeared and shouted, "Madroman, we need your help, Norazal is having convulsions."
Looking shocked at this information, Madroman, the Zelendoni of the fifth cave hurried away, followed by the panic driven first, and Ayla.
--
Ayla, entering the tent of the fifth cave, immediately saw the commotion surrounding the sick man on a platform. Five men, including their Zelendoni had encircled him, and were holding him down, trying to control the convulsions that the man was having.
"How long has he been like this?" she shouted, rushing to help.
Looking at Madroman, who nodded with distaste, the man who had ran to the Zelendonia meeting told her "he started becoming strange about an hour ago, saying that spiders were coming to get him."
"Yeah, and moaning about how he didn't want to die, but Norazal wanted him too" interrupted another man.
"And then he just started to scream, and scream, and scream, and then he just seemed to go quiet and fall asleep" a third man continued.
"But it wasn't a natural sleep, because he wouldn't wake up, and then he started to shake, harder and harder, and that is when I came to get Madroman" finished the first man.
"Okay, let me see him" Ayla
instructed.
The men started to move, but Madroman shook his
head.
"Let Ayla treat him" a stern voice said.
Looking to see who spoke with such authority, the men gulped, it was the first Zelendoni, slightly out of breathe, but still a force to behold.
"I repeat, let Ayla treat him" she ordered, watching as the men moved to let the healer move forward, and start to treat the man.
Sighing, Ayla recognised many of the symptoms that Laramar had had, "I don't think I can save him" she muttered to herself, thinking deeply.
Suddenly conscious of her surroundings, she was startled to realise that Norazal was choking, bending down she force open him mouth and look in disbelief at the sight of his tongue having been swallowed. Thinking quickly, she tried to hook her finger under it, but she could not get it to move. "Zelendoni" she cried, "he has swallowed his tongue."
Rushing forward, past the ineffectual men, she saw the problem, and also tried to pull Norazal's tongue out of his throat, but to no avail.
"There is nothing we can do" she stated with sadness as they all watched the man's convulsions, and his breathing stop.
Ayla put her head to his chest, she could not hear any beating, shaking her head, she announced "Norazal is dead."
Through the ear-splitting sound of voices filling the hastily called meeting, Tramalar, the Zelendoni of the second cave called for attention. "Everyone knows why we are here," he started, "one of our own has died, and we are here to find out why."
"It was that stupid ban" called out Madroman and that Jondalar's woman, and her silly idea of weaning those people off barma."
"You will get your chance later, Madroman" the Zelendoni of the eleventh cave told the man.
"Now, I think we will all agree that this ban of barma has not worked out like we thought it would" continued Tramalar, "but should we overturn it?"
The first Zelendoni stood up at this, "you have all heard how Tremeda was successfully treated, and mother willing we still believe that the others addicted to barma could be cured," she looked at Ayla, and saw her nod back to her. "I think we should look more into Norazal's treatment to ascertain what actually took place."
"Okay, Madroman" Tramalar looked at the Zelendoni, "we would very much like for you to tell us about exactly what happened."
"What happened?" Madroman said in a high pitch voice, "what happened is that animal woman of Jondalar's came up with some crack pot idea, and decided it should be pushed on all the Zelendonii. What happened is that, there was no way that a little bit of barma, and some herbs formulated by someone raise by flatheads, could help wean someone from barma."
"Are you telling us you didn't follow the healing method given you?" Ayla asked, trying to calm her stormy mind, "that you just let that man suffer?"
Looking at Ayla, Madroman sneered, "I didn't let him die, as you say, I meditated to the mother for him."
The first glared at him with dislike, "I think from that statement, it must be obvious that Madroman should not have been made a Zelendoni, that he was not ready."
"It seems to me he ignored the Ayla's advice simply because of how he feels about Jondalar, and what happened all those years ago" said the Zelendoni of the eleventh cave, looking at the man in question she said look at him, you can see it all over his face."
All in the meeting looked at Madroman, they could see the obvious look of hatred he was throwing in Ayla's direction.
"I agree" yelled a voice.
"He has no reason to hate Ayla, it must be because of how he feels about Jondalar, said another.
"Okay then" Tramalar took control of the meeting again, "the first order of this assembly will be to decide if Madroman should have his status taken away from him, so I ask you this, who agrees."
Many put their hands up at this.
"Motion carried, Madroman, from this moment forward you are hereby relieved of duty, and downgraded back to an acolyte."
Madroman's face went bright red with fury at this, but knowing it wouldn't do him any good to argue, turned on his heels, and ran out of the meeting.
"Now onto the ban" resumed Tramalar, "I think considering all the problems that this ban has had, young people leaving, complaints from many, including within the Zelendonia, criminalisation of barma makers and the death of Norazal, that we should vote on whether it should continue, how many believe the ban should stand?"
This time not so many put their hands up.
Looking at the first Zelendoni with sorrow, Tramalar said, "motion carried, the ban is lifted."
"No, you can't do that" shouted Ayla, truly magnificent in her rage, "what about all those that are addicted, what will happen to them?"
"You are right" Tramalar stated "we cannot leave these poor unfortunates to waste their lives away, and the lives of their families, and ultimately end up dead; we have to do something for them."
"What about" Ayla thought for a moment, "that no one is ever allowed to drink to dependency, that barma can be enjoyed, but not abused."
"Yes, that is good" the first said, "and that the treatment continues, and training is offered to all healers, so they can adequately help wean the addicts off the barma, with the mother's help."
"That is good too, but…" the Zelendoni of the eleventh cave contemplated, "I think that anyone with children, if they do not cooperate and they continue drinking, then the children should be taken from them, because it is not healthy that they should have to live like that."
"Anymore, more comments" Tramalar asked, "no, alright let us vote on those ideas, for the idea of barma being enjoyed... and for the addict still being weaned off barma, and healers being offered training on this... and lastly, that children should be taken off those who will not help themselves" he noted the hands that raised for each idea, and said "motions carried."
--
Tremeda had set out a stall of vegetables that she had grown. Lifting one up, a man smiled at her, and said "why are you trading these? anyone could easily go out and dig some up."
Tremeda looked at the handsome man, "because, I am not trading the vegetables, I am trading an idea, that we can grow our own, are you interested?"
Tremeda saw the glint in the man's eyes and knew what he was interested in was not her vegetables, or how to grow them, he was interested in her. Giving him her brightest smile, she asked him again, "are you interested in learning how to grow your own vegetables?"
Looking at her, he grinned "yes Tremeda, I am extremely interested."
The next couple of days Tremeda and the man, who was called Torolar, spent all their time together, either at her trading table, or with her family, and by the second mating of the summer meeting, he had made her his mate.
--
Many years later, at the site of the ninth cave, Tremeda's descendants sat under a tree. A man was talking, "this is the story of Tremeda and the mother's garden" he told them, "and you know what, we are sitting right under the apple tree she planted."
THE END.