8/14/2019 d5 Chapter 2b

1/9

Chapter 2b

Finally, I said with a big sigh.

When Arates gave me her explanation of why all of this was happening tome, I didnt like it one bit. It sounded to me like everyone was putting all of

their hopes on the red poppies that grew on Cliff Deos. She said that thevillage didnt choose me; the poppies did. I knew that people were crazyabout the red poppies here, but I didnt think that they were actually makingpeople crazy.

Being chosen was supposedly some great honor bestowed on an individualevery year. The person becomes what is called a Seeder and are given thegolden seeds of the red poppies to be spread throughout the barren world tosustain its beauty or something like that.

I honestly had a hard time believing everything that I was hearing. So whydid everyone else accept it without questioning it?

So, what happens next? I asked.

It was obvious that I didnt believe one word of what Arates was telling me,

but I at least wanted to know what was going to happen to me. Even if Ididnt believe, everyone else surely did. They all stared at me like I wasthrowing dirt all over their beliefs. I was from Matza Pira, too. Just because Ididnt share all the beliefs that they did doesnt mean that they could lookdown on me.

Next, we prepare you for your journey, young Rabbit.

We?

Yes, everyone in Matza Pira is here to help you. We are all depending onyou to carry out your task, Arates said, turning to face the villagers whowere gathered all around the bond fire.

8/14/2019 d5 Chapter 2b

2/9

Chapter 2b

Whats the bond fire for?

Its a part of the ritual. Dont you know anything about any of ourtraditions, my child?

Sorry, but I missed the lesson about the red poppies.

Then you shall witness firsthand what you missed in many of my stories.

Okay, Im ready, I said, taking a deep breath in case something crazy was

about to happen to me. I hoped they werent about to feed me anythingdisgusting.

Arates nodded to a few villagers standing close to the fire.

They approached, and when they stepped out of a pocket of darkness hiddenby the logs that fed the bon fire, I saw that they were carrying something. Ittook all three of them to carry a black cauldron where steam was slowlydrifting from it.

I squinted and said, What is that?

Boiled poppies, Thies said all to glad to answer my question. He rubbedhis hands together when the three men carrying the cauldron shuffled pasthim.

As the three men set the cauldron down on the ground, they made grunts ofeffort and took a few steps back.

Okay. So what happens next?

8/14/2019 d5 Chapter 2b

3/9

Chapter 2b

The ritual begins, Arates said.

What ritual?

This one, Arates said as a woman handed her a large gourd and dipped itinto the stewing cauldron.

I dont have to drink that, do I?

Of course not, my child.

I sighed, relived, but I knew that if I wasnt about to drink that, somethingmuch worse was about to happen to me.

Then what is this for? I asked, staring into the large pot. Inside was sodark that I couldnt see the bottom. The mixture swirled, and the steam tookhold of my face until I pulled it away.

This is for your purification.

My purification? Why would I need to be purified?

Enough questions, young Rabbit. Let us begin.

Everyone in the village came up to me, and I noticed that they all werecarrying a gourd in their hands, even the little children. One by one, theybegan dipping their gourds into the batch of boiled poppies and until it filledup.

8/14/2019 d5 Chapter 2b

4/9

Chapter 2b

Then they formed a single line and positioned their gourds. I held my handsup tentatively to protect myself. Were they about to do what I thought theywere about to do?

One after another they started splashing the hot contents of their gourds onme. I was right. The first splash hit me on the shoulder, but I was prettysure that the person who threw it was aiming for my face. I screamed forthem to stop, but that just made them take their turns faster.

I wanted to run away, but I knew that it wasnt an option. The elders stoodon both sides of me. Where was I going to go? If I ran, I knew that I couldnever come back. I had a mother and father who still lived here. Im surethat they would become pariahs if I did anything that made them look bad.

I closed my eyes and waited for the ritual to end. Maybe it would be easierthat way, not knowing who was throwing boiling poppies at me, but it didntmake it any easier to bear. It still hurt, having boiling liquid tossed on mewith no breaks in between. The liquid never got any cooler, and I knew thatthey would continue until there was none left.

Someone splashed the liquid in my face, and a little of it got in my mouth. It

was bitter, and I knew it wasnt a taste Id be able to get out of my mouth. Iteven burned the tip of my tongue. I wouldnt be able to taste anything for afew days. For some reason, I didnt think that it would matter whether or notI could taste anything.

After a few moments of nothing happening to me, I opened my eyes, one ata time, and saw them all staring at me. The bonfire behind them was stillraging like a malicious animal, making their shadows dance even thoughthey were all standing still. It made them look like they were plotting againstme. Fingertips curled, arms twisted, legs wriggled. Were these really the

same people that Id known my entire life or had they been replaced bysomeone else?

And now for the next step of your purification, Arates finally said, sendingme out of my own thoughts.

8/14/2019 d5 Chapter 2b

5/9

Chapter 2b

I looked sideways at Arates. Which is?

This, she said, pointing with her whole hand at a woman who approachedme.

I gasped when I saw her carrying a large black bowl with both hands.

You are to drink this poppy juice, the woman said as she came to a stop infront of me.

Remembering the taste of the boiling poppies that had accidently gotten intomy mouth, I shook my head violently.

No, I said. No, you cant do that to me.

Be at ease, my child, Thies said, resting a hand against my back. There isnothing to fear.

No, I said again. I pushed my way past the two elders and started to run,but there was another man standing behind me that I didnt notice. When Icollided into him, he grabbed me by the arm, and with one hand, he liftedme off my feet and carried me back to where everyone was waiting. I didnteven manage to get very far before I was captured.

Be careful with her, you brute! Thies said. We are all counting on her.

The large man that had captured me didnt say anything, but he did nod ashe gave a low grunt. He set me down on the ground, and I sat there drippingin a puddle that was still hot. I could feel the heat coming from my body,and my short hair was completely drenched.

8/14/2019 d5 Chapter 2b

6/9

Chapter 2b

I just sat there staring at the ground. I didnt dare look up, but I did see thewomans long shadow as it got closer to me. She knelt in front of me andput the bowl to my lips, but I refused to part them, and the liquid just raninto my lips before returning to the bowl. I was intent on making this asdifficult for them as possible.

The woman glanced above my head at someone, probably the man who setme down, and said something that I couldnt hear. I imagine she was tellinghim that I wouldnt drink the juice.

I felt a sturdy hand on my jaw, the dirty fingers prying my lips open. Thenmy head was made to tilt backward, the woman put the bowl to my lipsagain, and she poured the warm liquid inside my mouth. I didnt have a

choice but to swallow.

My mouth closedagain, not my doingand I just sat there, tears slippingpast my eyelids, but I didnt care if they all saw me sitting there, crying.

Arates put her hand on my shoulder, and said, Now is not the time forlament. Its a time for celebration.

For you, maybe.

Come on, young Rabbit, we have one last ritual for you to complete.

I stood up, coughing, probably choking on poppy juice which was surprisinglysweet, but that still didnt mean that I wanted to be forced to drink it. Bythen, the boiled poppies that had been dumped on me were cooling off, and

it felt as sticky as honey. It was starting to make moving my arms and legshard.

The powerful man that had lifted me and manipulated my jaw before yankedme to my feet. It made his hands sticky, and he had to wipe them on his

8/14/2019 d5 Chapter 2b

7/9

Chapter 2b

worn clothing before he could get the residue off his fingers. It served himright.

What now? I asked. I hadnt been able to get much sleep before I was

dragged out of bed, and it was beginning to show. I yawned, but I didntdare rub my eyes the way I always did when I was sleepy.

My eyes focused, and I saw that the villagers had something in their handsagain. It was relief that they werent carrying gourds or bowls full of poppyjuice. Everyone had armfuls of something that looked like little red balls.

Now you are to be covered in poppy petals, Thies said.

You mean like yesterday?

Yes. It is to symbolize your transformation into a red poppy. For whatreason did you think that we were doing all of this?

To torture me.

Thies gave a great big laugh, throwing his head back. Do not be silly, hesaid, guiding me with a gentle push forward. This is the last of the awfulthings that you must endure. After that, it will be nothing but pure bliss foryou.

I doubt it, I said under my breath.

What was that?

Nothing, I said with a smile that made me feel slimier than the sticky stuffthat I was covered in.

8/14/2019 d5 Chapter 2b

8/9

Chapter 2b

I took small steps forward, and a large circle formed around me. It took awhile for me to spot my mother and father, but by the time I located them,the final part of this transformation ritual, as Thies called it, had begun.

I felt something hit me in the back of my head, but whatever it was didnt fallon the ground. I put my hand to the back of my head, and I felt what I knewwas a petal get stuck in my hair. After the next petals bombarded mewithout stopping, I finally stopped trying to figure out who threw what andjust stood there.

Watching the petals take flight in mid-air looked unreal. Like a swarm ofbees, the petals drifted like humming birds and made their way to my body,almost like the sticky stuff was attracting them. The wind picked up speed,and the balled up petals opened themselves up and swirled around mebefore landing.

Now what? I asked, almost completely covered in petals.

We wait, Arates answered.

For what?

Before I got an answer, a light in the corner of my eye caught my attention,and when I looked, I saw the sun climbing out of the depths of the easternsky, staining the sky in a lighter shade of blue.

For the sun, Arates said, directing all of our gazes skyward to get us towatch the rising sun.

My body felt hot, and when I looked down to see what was happening, I sawthe petals all respond to the light. They opened themselves up more,stretching until they were lying flat against my body.

8/14/2019 d5 Chapter 2b

9/9

Chapter 2b

As the sun slowly took its place higher in the sky, the petals started to fade,losing their color until they took on a chalky white color. I felt them hardenand get heavy like fired clay fresh out of the kiln, then they fell off me all atonce, taking with them the sticky substance underneath.

Once again, I was red.

Everyone looked a little relieved.

Whats next? I asked Thies and Arates.

Now you must bathe in Priya Lake, they said in unison, the sun on theirbacks.