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}                                            SERVANT OF ZIPAG\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs28\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs18\kerning28 Sacrifice
\par}

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\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs18\kerning28     {\fs22
The world of the people called the Indis was tied to and controlled by the sun god
 Zipag. There were four major days that were his special times, the longest, the
 shortest, and the two where day and night were equal. Each year twelve girls born
 on or near the spring day of balance were pledged by their parents as future servants
 of the sun god and were taken after weaning to a remote temple to be raised and
 trained in their duties. Over the next twelve years they were sorted and those 
rejected as servants were sent to other temples as priestesses. There they would
 both pray and act as temple whores for the priests and those rich enough to afford
 them. Should any of them give birth on the spring day of balance to a girl she 
was marked as special and sent for servant training. Song was one such child. \par
}}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs22\kerning28     Today
 was the day Song had been training for her entire life. She had spent the last 
two days in preparation for today\u8217\'92s ceremonies and was at last ready. The
 daughter of a well born priestess and born in the temple of the capitol city at
 high noon on the spring day of balance she was both preordained and eager to become
 a servant. The preparations had been intense. Scrubbed and cleaned until she glowed
, a two day fast broken only with the purest spring water, given several enemas, 
and checks to verify her status as a virgin. Each of her actions and responses for
 today had been carefully planed and rehearsed. Now at last everything was done 
except to don the sleeveless robe over her naked body and to mount the litter that
 would carry her to the temple square.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs22\kerning28     The shortest
 day of the year was known as the day of repentance. On this day the people would
 present a new servant to Zipag along with their thanks and hopes for the new year
. A feast followed for the most important. The heads of the clans, the chiefs of
 the warrior societies, the king and his court, the heads of the merchant houses
, the parents of all servants, and a few ordinary citizens chosen by lot to attend
. Song had trained for everything up to her presentation to the god and nothing 
after. She had been taught that the god would direct her from then on so she needed
 no training from mere mortals.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs22\kerning28     She took
 one last look at herself  in the polished silver mirror. Looking back at her was
 a slender girl just starting the transition to womanhood. A small girl with just
 budding breasts and long dark hair that had never been cut. Lower her hips were
 only beginning to round and her virgin sex was sporting only a soft fine fuzz. 
She was of course comely, who would dare present anything less to a god. Somewhere
 in the crowd was the mother she had never met and she was determined to live up
 to her duties and make everyone proud of her and more importantly to please Zipag
 so as to ensure a good year for the people. \par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs22\kerning28     Then 
it was time. One of the elder priests encircled her waist with a soft rope and then
 tied her wrists to it, one hand by each hip. It was the first of several bindings
 that signaled her willing acceptance of her being bound to the service of the sun
 god. The rest would come later. The drugs she had been given both heightened her
 senses and relaxed her. Her feet barely felt the ground as she was led to the door
. A brief stop for the robe and then she was being carried through the streets. 
It seemed every person in the city and a lot from elsewhere were gathered along 
her route. She was showered with paper flowers, each one carrying prayers and requests
 for the god. As she was carried around a last corner the temple came into view. 
Through the large gates and into the courtyard she was taken. Down both sides was
 row after row of seats filled the people important or lucky enough to be allowed
 to attend this the most important ceremony of the year. Here the flowers were not
 thrown but were collected by slaves to be brought to the alter with her. \par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs22\kerning28     The litter
 was grounded by the alter and she was assisted from it by one of the priests who
 had formed part of her procession. At the alter her robe was removed and she was
 turned to face each side of the courtyard in turn. She could hear the soft buzz
 of comments as those seated there looked at the one who was tasked to carry their
 needs and thanks to their god. After a short time she was taken to the alter and
 laid upon it. More of the soft ropes crossed her chest, belly, and hips. A wooden
 pillow was placed under her head and a rope over her forehead  followed. She thought
 that the pillow was too low since it lifted her neck and allowed the rope to pull
 her head back. It was uncomfortable but only of minor concern at a time like this
. \par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs22\kerning28     As she
 was being bound to the alter she could hear the temple\u8217\'92s senior priest
 calling on the god and those present  to hear of her. Her birth, her mother, her
 piety, and her training were described in detail. Her willingness was questioned
 and she answered in a strong clear voice as to her eagerness to serve the god. 
Her legs were spread and her knees lifted so a party of three priests could each
 inspect her and proclaim her to be in fact a pure virgin. She wiggled a bit as 
each greased finger was slowly inserted until her hymen was felt. After the inspection
 was done her legs were also tied to the alter. \par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs22\kerning28     Now as
 the high priest took his place next to her and began the final ceremony while everyone
 waited and watched as a sunspot formed by the sun shining through a ring over the
 alter slowly mover up to her face. As the edge of the spot touched her eyes the
 priest started a rhythmic beat by thumping the silver staff he carried on the paving
. The crowd picked up the beat and within seconds she could hear it spread outside
 of the temple. It grew and grew until it filled her ears. Beating in time with 
her pulse the rhythm overpowered her senses as the sun blinded her. \par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs22\kerning28     Blinded
 and carried away by the beat she did not at first notice when the priest stopped
. Did not see him hold his hands up for silence. Never noticed the silver staff 
lifted and swung. She was shocked, stunned, and frozen by the pain as the heavy 
staff struck her outstretched  neck.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs22\kerning28 The pain 
exploded through her body and so overpowered her that it took several long seconds
 before she realized she could no longer breathe. The small breasts shook and heaved
 as she tried to get air through her ruined crushed throat. Perhaps she got a little
 but not enough. As she fought her body thrashed and struggled under the binding
 ropes but uselessly. Nothing she tried either won her freedom or was rewarded with
 a breath of life giving air. It was all useless. The sunspot moved over her pain
 contorted face as if the god was inspecting her. Still she tried. And still she
 failed. The spot of light moved on. She was weakening now. A small amount of blood
 trickled from the corner of her mouth as it gasped like a fish out of water. The
 spot moved and she continued dying. The body was tiring. The light in her eyes 
turned into a rainbow of colors as it moved. Now she was almost done. No longer 
did her body thrash about. With her chest on fire she tried to look at the priest
 but the last edge of the sun spot blinded her still. Then just as the sun left 
her eyes she gave one last dying effort and went still. She was gone, traveling 
to her god and carrying her messages. \par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs22\kerning28     Her body
 was carefully removed and cleaned one more time before being carried to the temple
 kitchen where her flesh was used to provide the meat in the stew that was served
 that evening as the sun set. Served to those that watched her die. Watched her 
be sacrificed for them. \par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs22\kerning28 A servant
 of Zipag forever. }}