Free Death in the Time of Ice by Kaye George Page A

decision, initiated by Nanno Green Eyes, was a way for her to assert leadership so she would be elected the new leader.

Chapter 7
    The teeth and jaws of the Cro-Magnons are larger than in modern Europeans, as was average stature and (probably) lean body weight. Estimates put early Cro-Magnon height at about 1.84 m (6 ft 1 in) in males and 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) in females, with lean body weight at perhaps 70 and 55 kg (154 and 121 lb) respectively. So while body weight was comparable with that of Neanderthals, the weight was distributed differently, and the body proportions certainly contrasted strongly…
    —In Search of the Neanderthals , Christopher Stringer and Clive Gamble, p. 183
    Not long after new sun, Jeek awoke. He rubbed his eyes and rolled onto one elbow. The light of Sister Sun, streaming in through the open flap of the mammoth-skin doorway, showed him that his birth mother was not in the wipiti.
    Mama , Jeek sent forth, trying to locate her. A moment of small panic washed through his pounding chest.
    Fee Long Thrower is having her baby , came the answer from Zhoo of Still Waters, from a distance. The baby was being born. Jeek’s breathing eased.
    He saw, through his mother, that she and several others were assisting Fee in the Holy Cave, where the new mother and child would stay for a few days after the birth.
    Ung Strong Arm is now in her own wipiti , Zhoo added.
    He sat up. Sure enough, Ung was not there. He was alone. Jeek grinned and lay back on his warm bearskin. A new baby was a happy time for the Hamapa. They would hold a celebration, with dancing and singing. He visualized the festivity: laughing, lightness, dancing, feasting. But then a somber notion. The Hamapa did not have enough food for such a feast. Now they needed a successful hunt more than ever.
    Four males had left on a trading mission very early, before first sun. Jeek had sleepily bade his birth brother, Teek Pathfinder, a good mission. Teek, Tog Flint Shaper, Bahg Swiftfeet, and Donik Tree Trunk had left with a supply of flint knives to trade for food with the Cuva. Jeek had joined the collective supplication of the tribe to the Spirits of Travel and Trade on behalf of the Hamapa males in hopes they would return with food to keep the tribe alive during the Dark Season. Then Jeek had gone back to sleep.
    As soon as Jeek’s mother sent permission for him to come, he pulled on his moose-skin cape, left the shelter of the wipiti, and dashed across the Paved Place and up the hill to the Holy Cave. On his way he ran a hand through his tangled brown, sun-streaked hair. This day his mother had not been there to comb it. Maybe he should try to groom himself later.
    When Jeek reached the top of the hill he shivered in his fur wrap at the cave entrance, unable to see Fee or the baby. Warm air poured out, with so many Hamapa crowded together inside, admiring the infant. There were wide grins at the tiny puckered face and the first smackings as the baby nursed. Jeek crawled through the legs of his tribe to see better.
    The cave, which housed their permanent fire, blazed with warmth. The beautiful walls welcomed him with red ochre streaks, painted by former Hamapa brothers and sisters. The cave, big enough to hold the whole tribe, was over half filled. The guests of honor, Fee and her newborn, reposed on a thick pile of fur skins near the warm fire.
    Jeek squatted for some time, watching amusing expressions flit across the face of the little one. Every time the baby made a tiny bleating noise, the females answered him with soothing ah-ah-ahs and smiles. Tribe brothers and sisters came and went while Jeek drowsed in the cozy cave, his back settled against a smooth spot on the wall.
    Jeek came to when the cave fell silent. He looked at the entrance, where the New One stood, his pale face averted. When the New One looked up quickly and stole a glance at the mother and child, the color of his eyes gave Jeek a shock. They were flower-colored, or maybe the color