Time Of Traitors

42

The sun was already disappearing from my eyes, and the forest was plunged into an alarming darkness. Midnight birds sang, crickets and other living creatures chirped and rustled. Drums rumbled and voices rang out. Bonfires were lit.

Like everything that was done in the community, the ritual burning of the remains foreshadowed the service of the d'ahs. Rok'hee, dressed in colorful robes and painted faces, walked around a huge couch of wooden rods on which rows of dead bodies were spread, and drew complex symbols on their whitish, lifeless foreheads. Who did not have foreheads, painted where necessary. Prayers flew into the black sky, drums beat.

The assembled relatives and friends remained silent. They stood about a hundred paces from the sacrament being performed and did not disturb the course of complex and responsible work. Everyone who wanted to say goodbye, said goodbye a long time ago.

Finally, everything was ready to escort the men and women to the d'ahs, and the dog-heads, one