第3章 《祭祀》（2/2）

。

the

one

whenthebelltolls,Iknowthecereonyisabouttobeg.

It'safailytradition,heldeveryeighteenyearsonthisday,wherethefailyhostsagrandandxuriosacrificialritetohonoroursupredeity.

o

AndIathesolepriestessthisritual.

three

dressediricatevestntsofapriestess,Iboardthepanquboundforthetepleunderyother'sworriedgaze.beforedepartg,Ifollowtheoldsofthefailyaowthepriestess'sblessgupontheunbornchildyother'swob.

Four

thetepleisbuiltaaounta,andthepanqussatthefootofthehill.withadevoutheart,Iasdthestairsleadgtothetepleoepatati.

thepathislong,andthecereonialrobesfeelexceedglyheavy,yetIdonotseheexpectedwearess.

Frobirth,Iwastaughttoshouldertheresponsibilitiesofapriestess.

Five

Uptheteple,Iseeeveryonebrigwithhope,tearswellgtheireyes.theyretreatnaturallybehd,ignitgthedleyhand.Iuandthatthepathaheadisealootread,fornooherthanthepriestessisallowediheteple.

Six

thetepleisdark;thedooropensbrieflybeforeclosgaga.holdgtheonlysourceoflight,Islowlyakeywayside.Iswearthatnoonehaseverenteredhere,foriftheydid,theywouldwitheborewnacrossthefloor.

Seven

Upoheso-calleddeity,Ianotsurprised.Irelyundress,akgyselfreadyforthe\"deity's\"feast.

Eight

Frotheverybegng,IknewIwasthesolethiscereony.

Ne

thechildyother'swobisborn.thatistheIleavetothefaily,the\"\".Ieenyears,hetoowillbeeapriest.

ten

thecereonywillnotcease;allwillbetrappedthecycleofrebirth.AndI,Iwritethebegngofthistale.