:12:01
/n fact, /'m officiating some
immense/y important ritua/ sacrifice...
:12:05
on which depends the fate of the crops,
or of a mi/itary expedition.
:12:10
The sacrifice is a herd of chi/dren...
:12:13
about 500 boys and gir/s stretching
in a /ong queue, across the p/ain of Argos.
:12:17
/ know it's Argos, because of the red soi/.
:12:20
On either side of me stand two
assistant priests, wearing masks as well...
:12:25
lumpy, pop-eyed masks...
:12:27
such as were a/so found at Mycenae.
:12:29
Enormous/y strong, these priests,
and abso/ute/y tire/ess.
:12:33
As each chi/d steps forward, they grab it
from behind and throw it over the stone.
:12:37
Then, with a surgica/ ski// that
amazes even me, / fit in the knife...
:12:41
and slice elegantly down to the navel,
just like a seamstress following a pattern.
:12:47
l part the flaps, sever the inner tubes...
:12:50
yank them out and throw them,
hot and steaming, on the floor.
:12:54
The other two then study the patterns,
as if they're reading hierog/yphics.
:12:58
/t's obvious to me
that /'m tops as chief priest.
:13:03
lt's this unique talent for carving
that's got me where l am.
:13:08
The on/y thing is...
:13:10
unknown to the others...
:13:13
/'m beginning to fee/ distinct/y nauseous.
:13:16
And with each victim, it's getting worse.
:13:18
My face is going green behind the mask.
:13:21
Of course,
l redouble my efforts to look professional...
:13:24
cutting and snipping for all l'm worth...
:13:26
main/y because / know that if those two
others so much as suspect my distress...
:13:30
and the imp/ied doubt
that this repetitive and sme//y work...
:13:33
is doing any socia/ good at a//...
:13:35
then l'd be next over the stone.
:13:40
Then, of course,
the damn mask begins to slip.
:13:43
The priests both turn and /ook at it.
:13:46
Their go/d pop-eyes
sudden/y fi// with b/ood.
:13:49
They tear the knife from my hand, and...
:13:55
l wake up.