“I’ve got other clothes,” Mike said, blinking. “But this sounds familiar, too. Every year the Ghurkas have a ceremonial slaughter of animals. One member of the individual tribe or unit, carefully chosen, does the slaughtering. Nobody but the Ghurkas, and their British officers, are allowed to witness it.”
“Then we will perform the Rite,” Father Kulcyanov said, nodding. “There are none in this Valley who I find it ill to be present at the Rite, but I… recommend that some not attend.”
“I can’t imagine who,” Mike said, dryly. “But why don’t I suggest to Anastasia and the girls that they retire early.”
“That would be best, Kildar,” Father Mahona said, thankfully.
“It is time for the Choosing,” Father Kulcyanov said, looking over at a similar deputation of women who were headed towards the barley fields. “We should go.”
“After you,” Mike said, gesturing the Fathers forward. “I will be along shortly.”
The rest of the Keldara were headed towards the Choosing but Mike grabbed one of the young boys who was running in that direction.
“Ivar,” Mike said, dredging up his name. “Go find Colonel Nielson, the Master Chief and Vanner and make sure they meet me at the Choosing.”
“Yes, Kildar,” the boy said with a gap toothed grin. “I shall.”
“Good lad,” Mike said, releasing him. He’d already spotted Anastasia. Some of the harem were mingling with the Keldara girls but a few were clustered around her. Good.
Mike made his way through the throng to the harem manager who was heading for the Choosing.
“Stasia,” he said, smiling as he touched her arm.
“Kildar,” Anastasia said, smiling back. “You have been keeping to yourself.”
“I’ve been avoiding deputations,” Mike said. “But a couple caught up with me. One concerns the ceremony this evening. I… strongly recommend that you and the girls not attend.”
“We are not welcome,” Anastasia said, nodding. “I had been surprised that we were permitted at the other festivals. We should leave.”
“That’s not it,” Mike said, shaking his head. “It’s a purely… It’s a blood sacrifice. Animals I’ll add. But it’s probably going to turn your stomach, and the girls’. The Father’s made it a recommendation. It’s based purely on that. Don’t go before the Choosing.”
“Very well, Kildar,” Anastasia said.
“In fact,” Mike said, taking her arm, “I think we should both go to the Choosing. Together.”
“That would probably be appropriate,” Anastasia said, smiling. “By the way,” she added as they made their way through the crowd, “I got a glimpse of your next Cardane girl. And you are bothered by this Rite why?”
“I’m still wondering that myself,” Mike admitted, sheepishly. “But I can’t think that it’s a good thing. I have to have these guys at my back. I can’t imagine that one day one of them isn’t going to get pissed about the Rite.”
“They seem to take it very well,” Anastasia said. “I mean, that is unusual but not unknown. There are other societies that practice similar rituals.”
“Yeah, but it still bugs me,” Mike said as they got to the stone wall of the first barley field.
Mother Lenka led the deputation of Mothers. She wasn’t one of the Family heads but she was the acknowledged mistress of brewing among the Keldar so it wasn’t exactly surprising.
The Mothers were wandering in apparently random order through the field, fingering the heads of barley and occasionally picking some of it and tasting.
“I have no idea how long this takes,” Mike said. “But it’s probably a long time.”
“We have time,” Anastasia said as the Mothers gathered on the far side of the field. They had their heads together, fingering handfuls of barley and apparently discussing it. Mike suspected they were just making a big show.
Mike sensed someone walking up behind him but didn’t turn around.
“You were looking for me, Kildar?” Vanner said.
Patrick Vanner a stocky, blonde, crew-cutted former Marine intel geek, handled commo and intelligence. He’d started off as a linguist, ended up in intercept then analysis and finally communications security and eventually spent time working with the NSA. A whiz with any sort of electronics, communications or information technology he filled the role of both commo officer and intelligence officer. Since he spoke more languages than Mike could count and was “into” cultures, he thought Vanner would really enjoy this evening’s ceremony, bloody or not.
“I need to talk to you, Adams and Nielson,” Mike said, turning around. “We’ll wait until they’re all here.” But he could see both of the other staff making their way through the crowd.
Colonel Thomas Nielson, USA, retired, slim, medium height with black hair gone gray and piercing green eyes was a former infantry and civil affairs colonel, the only “professional” officer in the group. He fitted in as sort of chief of staff. Nielson juggled the operations and training schedules when things weren’t “hot”, relieving Mike of the tedium of paperwork that was anathema to him. When things were hot, and they often did, Nielson managed the battlefield conditions — made sure there was supporting fire, argued with any higher, got the ammo forward — while Mike went forward to lead. He was a maniac for training but admitted that he wasn’t quite as happy doing the tactics.
Chief of Staff, XO, whatever, he handled the details, Mike led.
The Mothers had headed for another field so Mike waved for the group to follow.
“There’s a ceremony this evening,” Mike said.
“The Samman Latract,” Vanner said. “This is their version of the Night of the Dead. But I’ve been picking up on another one. The Beatai Leanah I think is what I’m catching. I’ve been brushing up on my Gaelic since McKenzie was here and I think the first is something like ‘Calling the Dead’ or ‘Waking the Dead.’ The second one… I think it’s some type of sacrifice.”
“Give the man a cigar,” Mike said as they reached the second of six fields. The fields were not designated for any particular Family but the Keldara tended to do things in sixes. “It’s a blood sacrifice, the beginning of the winter slaughtering. They haven’t done it in a long time. And it’s supposed to be pretty bloody.”
“Like the… What’s that Ghurka rite?” Nielson said.
“The ///Ghurka rite. Toni, If I screw up and never get this in here, you probably know the name and I know Hank does///,” Vanner said.
“I think so,” Mike said. “We’ll see. I’ve asked the girls to head back to the caravanserai, since I don’t think they want to get too splattered.”
“The top of the dun isn’t all that big,” Adams said, nodding. “Carotid blood does have a tendency to spray everywhere.”
“Thank you so much for that image, Master Chief,” Anastasia said, politely.
“And that, my dear, is why it’s suggested you not attend,” Mike said, grinning.
“And so I shan’t,” Anastasia replied. “I think some of the girls would take it just fine, but we’ll all retire when the group heads up the hill.”
Then it’s agreed,” Mike said as the Mother’s finished checking out another field. “And off to another field we go.”
Chapter Four
Mike hadn’t realized that they’d check all six fields but they did. Then, still standing in the last one, they held a meeting that involved a bunch of arm waving. Mike was surprised that Mother Lenka, who usually had an, often foul-mouthed, opinion on anything was standing listening to it with her arms folded.