58 in the middle (2/2)
”Of course, and he'll burn our asses all over, and purgatory ...” Lola whizzed around.
Laila saw her eyes glitter fanatically in the darkness.
Their faces were only inches from each other.
”Be glad that Atibor thinks you could be important, otherwise I would have ripped your dangerous tongue out long ago.”
Laila looked calmly at Lola.
”I do not believe in the devil.”
”Oh, trust it, you'll believe in it, you'll feel it.” Lola went on.
Laila was still pondering Lola's words.
What should she feel and what was a consecration?
Why Atibor thought her important was clear to Laila .
If he had checked her—and Laila was sure he had done just that - he would know, thanks to Benedict's computer genius, that Linda was currently a millionaire.
He would also know that Linda had been in a psychiatric hospital several times and had twice committed suicide attempts.
Light food for Atibor.
But if it went to Laila , he should suffocate at the first bite.
Lola stopped abruptly, so that Laila almost ran into her.
”We are there.”
Laila peered past Lola and saw a large clearing in the forest, framed by numerous small light sources. Laila guessed that it was an earthenware oil container, because it did not smell like burned wood and an electric light source in the middle of the forest was unlikely.
At the end of the illuminated circle, Laila saw a huge altar-like structure, which was completely covered with a black cloth.
There was no human presence except Lola and her.
Laila swallowed dry, she did not like that at all.
”Where are the others? Where is Atibor?”
”The others are with the sacrifice, and Atibor never knows whether he is attending consecration.”
Laila's nerve endings began to vibrate.
The victim? Tamara! And she stood around naked and without weapons.
If she was lucky, 'the others' were not many people, maybe just women who Laila could turn off in combat.
It started best with Lola.
Laila tensed her muscles.
Suddenly she heard loud cracking in the undergrowth.
Lola and Laila both looked in the direction the sounds came from.
”They are there.” Lola stepped into the clearing.
A group of about 20 women and men, all naked, stepped into the clearing.
In tow, a ram's goat, which they led on a rope.
Laila sent a blessing to Heaven - the beast should be sacrificed, not Tamara.
After she had recovered, she followed Lola and walked towards the group.
The women and men looked at Laila curiously.
More and more people came to the clearing, 20 - 30 - 40 - maybe more.
In spite of their nudity, they all moved naturally, as if the most normal thing in the world was to be naked in the middle of a forest late at night.
The ram was passed close to Laila , in the middle of the clearing.
Laila saw the massive, curved horns and muscles working under the brown fur.
She looked after him and had to resist a laugh.
The buck's big buckle rocked between his legs.
Lola joined Laila .
”We start.”
”By which?” Lola grabbed her upper arm.
”The ritual, just watch and enjoy it.”
She smiled mysteriously.
Laila followed her.
The present men and women had formed a circle around the ram.
Laila was placed in a circle just before the head of Aries.
Lola stepped in the middle to the animal.
She raised both arms over her head and began to speak in a clear voice.
”Prince of Darkness, look to your disciples, we have come to pay homage to you ...”
Laila felt the fingers of the men to the right and left of her interlocked.
The circle mumbled in one voice. ”Satan, enlighten us.”
”... you are the truth, the understanding, the power ...”
”Satan, enlighten us.”
”... see this strong animal, you are not allowed to take possession of your body ...”
”Satan, enlighten us.”
”... we are your tool, your gateway to our midst ...”
”Satan, enlighten us.”
The crowd started to beat rhythmically.
Laila stared spellbound at Lola and the ram.
An elderly woman with drooping breasts and Gray pubic hair approached Lola and handed her a large dagger.
She picked up a bowl that had been at Lola's feet, removed the blood-red cloth that carried the three intricate 6's, the symbol of Symbolia, and stepped toward a woman standing in the circle about 3 meters from Laila , She held the bowl out to the woman.
She bent her head low over the shell and audibly inhaled six times.
The older woman moved clockwise toward Laila and repeated the process in front of each person.
Hold the bowl, dip the head, inhale six times.
Laila watched curiously as the man on his right leaned his head low over the bowl and inhaled.
When he raised his head, he looked at Laila for a moment.
His eyes were cloudy, his features relaxed.