Boy of the Painted Cave

Tao discards his spear and hides from the hunters by climbing a willow tree. Volt and the hunters search the area. They find and take Tao’s spear. For a moment, Tao fears that Volt has seen him, but then Volt says that they must have crossed the river. In the morning, Tao hears howling and crosses the river to find Ram. He finds a tree branch to use as a crutch and discovers the wolf dog tied up in a clearing. As Tao attempts to free Ram, he is confronted by the Mountain People, who say they have seen Tao and Ram hunting, and the wolf dog belongs to them now. They restrain Tao, who struggles and says if they let him and Ram go, they will hunt and bring the Mountain People much food. The leader considers this and says they should bring Tao and Ram back to their camp to ask the shaman. Tao asks if the shaman is Graybeard; they confirm this and say the shaman is sick.

At the camp, Tao finds Graybeard weak and very thin. Graybeard says the Mountain People tell him he is dying. Tao doesn’t want to believe it. Graybeard says Tao must help him return to the Valley People. When Tao tells him what happened with Volt, Graybeard says the longhorns have returned to the plains, and they must paint the animals’ images in the Secret Cavern. He tells Tao that he is too weak to paint, and none of the others will paint well enough to please the spirits, so it must be Tao who makes the images. He says that he will convince the Valley People. Tao protests that Graybeard is too weak to make the voyage, but Graybeard says he can walk slowly, and if Tao does not help him, he will attempt the voyage on his own. They slowly make their way to the river, where Tao makes a raft for the crossing. They must arrive before night. Tao is afraid and doubts that the clan will accept him.

When they reach the limestone cliffs, Graybeard tells Tao to hide at the top and wait until darkness falls, at which time he is to make his way into the Big Cave and navigate to the Secret Cavern. Graybeard taps Tao on his right shoulder, the side has difficulty walking on, and tells him to keep moving in that direction. He also gives Tao a lamp to light his way. Once Tao reaches the Secret Cavern, he should begin drawing the longhorns. Graybeard gives Tao a deerskin pouch that contains the graven image stones and other magical implements. He tells Tao that he will bring the hunters to the cavern after nightfall; once they see Tao’s drawings, Graybeard says, the hunters will understand why Graybeard has chosen him as the new Cave Painter.

At dark, Tao follows Graybeard’s instructions and makes his way to the Big Cave. He sees the hunters below, dancing and singing around the fire. He is almost caught by a young hunter who comes to tend to the Endless Flame. Inside the cave, Tao can’t remember which shoulder Graybeard had tapped. He chooses to go left but is not sure it is the correct decision. A little way down the passage, Tao turns around, convinced he’s made the wrong choice. When he comes to an opening in the wall, he is not sure if it is the way to the Secret Cavern or not. A drop of water from the ceiling lands on his lamp, snuffing the flame. Tao begins to navigate his way through the cave by feeling along the walls, though he is not sure if he is going the right way.

Tao makes his way carefully through the cave and finally locates the Secret Cavern. He is full of wonder at the Cavern’s “splendor […] color and beauty” (138). He is amazed by the massive drawings and how alive they seem and is elated he will be a part of this amazing place. After taking it all in, Tao picks up a large stick of charcoal and begins to draw a longhorn. He loses himself in the painting, using the techniques Graybeard taught him to render them as life-like as possible. Finally, he hears the hunters approaching and stands to the side, proud and eager for them to see.

However, when the hunters arrive, they are alone. Garth is horrified, Volt stunned. Tao says, “No…Graybeard will tell you, it is the will of the spirits” (140). Volt says that Tao is a curse on the clan. Tao insists that Graybeard sent him, but Garth says he is lying. They speculate that Tao has killed Graybeard and thinks to replace him. Stunned, Tao says that Graybeard will tell them they are wrong. The hunters ask Tao where Graybeard is, and Tao realizes with horror that the shaman never made it to the clan. He says that he left Graybeard near the oak wood and that the shaman was sick, but he would never have hurt his friend. The hunters do not believe him. Volt says that Tao has angered the spirits of the longhorns and must face Saxon, the sacred bull.

The hunters tie Tao up. He tells himself that they will find Graybeard and learn the truth. In the camp, he sees the hunters carry something wrapped in skins into camp. Some of the clan women sit beside it and rock back and forth in grief. Tao realizes it’s a dead person. He hears a whimpering and sees Ram hiding in the bushes behind him. Tao tells the wolf dog to leave, and he eventually does once he hears approaching footsteps. Kala arrives with Graybeard’s deerskin pouch and a knife, saying she will cut Tao loose and he will escape. Tao says that if he runs away, they will be sure he killed Graybeard. He says he will stay and face Saxon because, “If I live, they will know I have spoken the truth. If I do not, then it does not matter” (146). Kala says he is stubborn, like his mother.

In the morning, the hunters take Tao to face Saxon. Volt gives him his spear and says it is the will of the spirits that he may have it. They draw Saxon’s attention, and the great bull charges Tao. Tao leaps out of the way twice; Volt jumps down from the higher viewing grounds and shouts, distracting the bull, but Saxon will not be lured away from Tao. Tao continues to dodge the great beast. He throws Graybeard’s deerskin pouch, hitting Saxon in the face. The pouch tangles around the bull’s horns. When the bull begins to charge again, Tao spots one of the shining stones that has fallen from Graybeard’s pouch. He uses it to shine light into Saxon’s eyes, angering and confusing the bull until it gives up and leaves.

Volt approaches and says that they all saw the magic of Tao defeating the bull. The spirits have spoken, and Tao may live. They hear a thunderous noise and realize that Saxon has caused the longhorns to stampede toward them. Tao and the hunters scramble to the safety of higher ground. Tao realizes Volt is not with them. Once the animals clear, he sees Volt on the ground next to the body of a dead calf. The calf’s mother approaches Volt but is driven off by Ram, who suddenly appears to defend Volt. The bison runs away. Dazed, Volt says that his curse has been broken. He tells Tao his mother would have been proud of him. Tao asks what she was like; Volt says she was tall, fair, strong, and willful, and much like Tao himself. Tao realizes Volt is his father. Volt says, “You are a man now…You no longer need a father” (154).

Some time later, they bury Graybeard. Tao has a new deerskin robe and a necklace of lions’ teeth. The burial is ceremonial. During the process, Tao remembers Graybeard and the lessons he taught. Volt announces to the clan that Tao is their new Cave Painter. Kala gives Tao a new deerskin pouch. With tears in his eyes, Tao leads Ram down the cliff and into the valley, where they see many herds of animals. He knows he will have to prove himself to the Mountain People once they cross the river, but he is happy to be following his dreams and to be fulfilling Graybeard’s legacy.