Sacrifice

By Nadav Lemberger

 

The drums were beating to the tune of sacred death. The setting sun hung low in the sky, shimmering in anticipation over the great semicircle of worshippers. The edge of the Plateau neatly cut the circle in two, those closest to the edge shying away. The rhythm of the drums reverberated through Teani’s ears, declaring the holiness of the day.

Teani watched, spellbound, as the Vessel was brought to the center. It was overflowing with smooth stones, each bearing a colored glyph, Teani knew — except for three; one blue for the next Mediator and two pure white for the Second Half. The Second Half would be lowered from the Plateau to join the Mist and become one with the Ra’dak, Great One of the Sky, linking the Mediator to heaven. The priests said ecstasy would envelop them as they became the strength of the people of Ra’dak. Teani’s dream was to become Mediator, to become Ra’dak’s divine messenger, just as her father was once.

Her father’s body was brought to the Vessel. Tears clouded Teani’s eyes as she saw her father for the last time. The rhythm of the drums changed, beating slow and steady. The bittersweet sound of plucked strings joined them, mourning the death as the Mediator’s body was lowered off the plateau to join the Mist forever. Then the music stopped.

It was time for the Choosing.

 

The process was slow and dull, yet Teani watched apprehensively, praying each time that the Mediator’s stone would not be drawn. Each tribesperson wound the cloth over their eyes and picked a stone. As the ceremony drew on, the children grew less and less attentive. Under six, Teani would have done the same, but she was now eleven, nearly a grown woman. Pay attention. Focus. Suddenly, a young girl drew a pure white stone, drawing the crowd’s attention for a few moments before they looked away. The girl’s parents began to cry, but Teani was relieved. Not the Mediator, thank Ra’dak. The Choosing made its way around the circle, coming closer and closer to Teani. She held her breath as her mother stepped up, but she drew a marked stone. Safe, then.

Teani’s heart echoed the drumbeats as she stepped up to the Vessel, blind. The urn’s edges were thick and hot as Teani reached down to the stones, which were cool as ice. She reached to the bottom, feeling around for the right one. A stone slipped into her grasp, buried at the bottom. This is the one. When she drew it from the urn, she felt the moment of silence, the apprehension carried on the wind. The crowd around her burst into speech, murmuring with fervor. Yes! I’ve done it! Teani exultantly removed the blindfold and looked down at the stone.

It was white.

 

The rest of the Choosing passed in a haze, Teani watching with empty eyes from her mother’s arms. The crying was the only sound. The people seemed to blur together until Teani realized, belatedly, that everyone was waiting for her to step into the center. The other girl, short and red-eyed from crying, was waiting next to the Vessel. I will face this. Teani stepped up beside her, flanking the new Mediator. He was a young man, bright-eyed and eager, full of the energy Teani had felt during her draw, excited by glory, power, and his own chosenness. This is what we die for?

Teani’s thoughts were interrupted by the renewed strumming of strings. I will face this! I won’t be like the other girl. She held her head high as the tribe erupted in song around, a wordless tune of death and rebirth, new beginnings and hope. Teani reached within her for the fervor she should be feeling — she would experience Ra’dak himself! Excitement should be flowing through her veins! Yet she thought back to her faint memories of the previous Second Half, and nothing came to mind except the tears of the mothers. A bag was placed at the feet of the Mediator and tribespeople came forward to place their stones within. Teani’s mother was last, following the other girls’ mother. Her last kiss was salty.

“Goodbye, Mother.”

“Goodbye, Teani. Your father would be proud of you.”

Had she actually thought she would become Mediator? Did she think she was special, just because her father had been? Had she really expected to be chosen?

The bag was filled. Teani knelt, in tandem with the other girl, to kiss the feet of the Mediator. She walked proudly to the edge, the girl slouched beside her, ready to face her fate. She tried to summon the joy she should feel, but failed again. The stones were lowered first, a symbol of every tribesman accompanying the Second Half, before ropes were tied around the girls’ waists. As they were lowered, sinking down into the shadow of the Plateau, a chill settled into Teani’s bones. She closed her eyes, looking away from her mother’s face at the edge of the precipice. The stone was cool under her feet when they reached the bottom. Her father’s body, waiting for them at the bottom, strengthened Teani. I must make him proud. The tribespeople looking on were just dots at the top of the cliff, the drums a dull beat. Teani grasped for her companion’s hand, which was shaking slightly. The desert stretched into the distance, vast and shimmering in the sunset. The sun dipped below the horizon and the drums tolled a great boom.

“That’s our signal to go.”

Teani’s partner breathed in and they walked away from her father’s body, dragging the bag of rocks behind them. As the stone turned to sand beneath their feet, twilight settled across the desert. They stopped once they could no longer see the people crowding the top of the plateau and waited for the Great One to come for them.

Night fell. The Mist was slow, rolling in in great waves of white vapor, chilling the air in its path. It came closer and closer, filling the panorama of dunes with a silver sheen. Teani turned to the other girl and asked, “What’s your name?”

The cold was sudden and harsh, vision filling with paleness as the Mist fell over them. Teani breathed in, apprehension growing within her. The girl opened her mouth to answer, but her body began to convulse, her limbs shaking violently and low moans issuing from her mouth. Her limbs contorted in impossible ways, twisting in the sand, and blood flew from her mouth. Teani looked down nervously, the fear building within her. Why is nothing happening to me? Panic filled her eyes as she looked down at her partner in death. Was she immune? Did the Great One not want her?

A rasp issued from the girl’s mouth. “Stop… hurts… too… much…” But it was supposed to be… the greatest joy! The fear was insurmountable, paralyzing Teani, rooting her to the spot. Would this happen to her? As she felt nothing, the panic rose more. Would she die, dehydrated, slowly and painfully in the desert?

A wave of shaking seized the girl and she opened her eyes. They were sudden shocks of bright blue, seeming to glow in the covering of white. Teani was startled from her thoughts, backing away slowly as the other girl rose, stumbling on lethargic limbs. The girl seemed to recover slowly, becoming more coordinated.

“He...llo?” The words died on Teani’s lips as those blue eyes looked at her, seized with a feverish intensity. The girl stood and stumbled to Teani, her body shaking violently, hoarse screams issuing from her mouth. She shouldn’t be able to stand! Every bone in her body should be broken! She should be dead! With a sudden burst of speed, the once-girl tackled Teani, pawing at her face with inhuman strength. Teani struggled, punching and kicking, attempting to shove the thing that had seemed so frail earlier off. Why? What happened? What did it do!? Fists rained down tirelessly, and Teani’s energy began to flag. Her arms fell to the ground and the fists stopped. The girl opened her mouth, saliva dripping onto Teani’s chest, and growled.

Screams pierced the Mist.