Boy of the Painted Cave

Tao and Ram thrive throughout the spring. They explore the Slough and more remote areas, finding plenty of game to hunt and bring back to the clan. On one occasion, Volt comments that Tao brings in a lot of game for someone who claims to hunt alone. Tao does not want to lie but does not want to endanger Ram, so he says, “I hunt with no man,” which allows him to tell the truth without revealing his secret (62). Volt says that Tao must have found good hunting grounds and demands that he tell the other hunters where it is. He knows they will not accept the Slough, so he tells them how to get to a place where the salmon is plenty.

Tao continues to practice his drawing on the cave walls. He does well when he is drawing Ram, but he continues to struggle with drawing animals from his imagination. One day, Tao and Ram see a giant deer. They are watching it when an old man approaches them. Tao knows he is breaking many taboos, so he is afraid, but he tries to act like he isn’t. The man is