第3章 《祭祀》

    《祭祀》

    一

    当钟声响起时,我便知道,祭典要开始了。

    这是家族的传统,每隔十八年的今天,家族都会召开一场隆重而华贵的祭祀典礼,来供奉家族的无上的神明。

    二

    而我,是这场祭典上唯一的祭司。

    三

    我穿上复杂的祭司礼服,在母亲担忧的眼神中坐上了前往神庙的花轿。离开前,我按照家族旧礼,将祭司的祝福送给了母亲肚子里面还未出生的孩子。

    四

    神庙修建在山上,花轿停在山脚,我怀着虔诚的心,一步一步走上了前往神庙的楼梯。

    山路很长,此时的祭司服变得十分厚重,但我感受不到这该有的疲惫。

    我从出生起,便被教导要背负起祭司的责任。

    五

    在到达到神庙后,我看着所有人都饱含希冀、热泪盈眶。他们十分自然地退至我的身后,点燃了我手中的烛火。我知道,接下来的路,只有自己。因为神庙,是不容许除祭司以外的人进入的。

    六

    神庙很暗,那扇大门在短暂的打开后,又关闭了起来。我举着唯一的火光,慢慢向里面走去。我敢发誓,那些人绝对没有进来过,因为他们一旦走近,便会看到满地的尸骨。

    七

    在看到所谓的神明后,我没有一点意外。只是解开了衣服,方便“神明”的吃食。

    八

    从一开始,我就知道,我是这场祭典中唯一的祭品。

    九

    母亲肚子里面的孩子诞生了。那是我为家族留下的下一个祭品,也是下一个“我”。十八年后,他会同样成为祭司。

    十

    祭典不会停止,所有人都会沉溺于轮回,而我,为这个故事写上开头。

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    The

    One

    When the bell toll, I kno the ceremony i about to begin.

    It" a family traition, hel every eighteen year on thi ay, here the family hot a gran an luuriou acrificial rite to honor our upreme eity.

    To

    An I am the ole priete in thi ritual.

    Three

    Dree iricate vetment of a priete, I boar the palanquin boun for the temple uner my mother" aze. Before eparting, I follo the ol  of the family ahe priete" bleing upon the unborn chil in my mother" omb.

    Four

    The temple i built atop a mountain, an the palanquin top at the foot of the hill. With a evout heart, I a the tair leaing to the temple o a time.

    The path i long, an the ceremonial robe feel egly heavy, yet I o he epecte earine.

    From birth, I a taught to houler the reponibilitie of a priete.

    Five

    Up the temple, I ee everyone brimming ith hope, tear elling in their eye. They retreat naturally behin me, igniting the le in my han. I uan that the path ahea i mine aloo trea, for no oher than the priete i alloe ihe temple.

    Si

    The temple i ark; the oor open briefly bef again. Holing the only ource of light, I loly make my ay inie. I ear that no one ha ever entere here, for if they i, they oul ithe boren acro the floor.

    Seven

    Upon eeing the o-calle eity, I am not urprie. I merely unre, making myelf reay for the "eity"" feat.

    Eight

    From the very beginning, I kne I a the ole  in thi ceremony.

    Nine

    The chil in my mother" omb i born. That i the   I leave to the family, the  "me". Ieen year, he too ill bee a priet.

    Ten

    The ceremony ill not ceae; all ill be trappe in the cycle of rebirth. An I, I rite the beginning of thi tale.