"Whenever a man is ready to be the vessel of God the eyes of the archangels are always on him we pray that the sacrifice of our son
Santos will not be for vain but our efforts be blessed and filled with accomplishments as he enters this sacred cave. Amen." the head priest prayed and everyone chorused "Amen."
It's time he told me and I nodded. At this time it seemed that the morale which the song has put in me had vanished like thin air and I shivered at the sight of the dark cave. Many vessels of my blood kicked against my going further and I couldn't move an inch.
"Do you no longer want to go?" the head
priest asked with a lowered voice. Which was eagerly expecting a negative reply and a voice in my head began to speak.
"You are about to sacrifice your life for people who despised and maltreated you. Now you are honoured and praiaeed because they need you. Stay back and don't go it is your last chance to back out. Don't do this!"
My whole body danced to the tune of that voice but in my soul I remembered clearly the last words of my father.
"A thousand mile which is trekked for
humanity's betterment is worth it even if it leads towards the heat of a blast furnace."
l got encouragement from this words of him
and took a deep breath staring at the
entrance of the cave where the caves name was clearly inscribed and in the same way I felt the eyes of about a thousand people who seriously wanted to know my next line of
action.
Not only that I knew I had to make a decision l also knew I had to decide quickly.
For the first time since when i left the temple, I turned back and my eyes met with those of the teary woman who raised me from when my father and I returned from the America and that of my siblings who grew up together with me. their eyes seemed to speak lengthy words of discouragement making me stand still on my track. However on giving it a thought, I discovered that I have gotten to a point where I was too far to turn back.
"If l died, I die and forever be remembered as a hero" | told myself and got my mind set for the journey ahead.
I turned to the head priest who was waiting for a reply from me and replied. I'm on my way in." As l collected the oil with which I was supposed to awake the gargoyle it was sealed in a soda container but I should transfer it later on into the cup of salvation which lay within the cave"
I walked to a point at the entrance where the youngest priests had set fire wood which is suitable to be used as torch on fire and after the flame has been blessed I picked up one of the longest wood and step by step and I began walking into the dark cave
"Santos!" I heard my step mother scream but I couldn't look back at this point in my life.
The people began to sing another
melodious song in my praises this one
sounded more solemn, mournful and less danceable. It sounded as though they mourned and
celebrated me together.
The more I moved further the more I could hear them less. l continued walking till l couldn't hear their voices any more