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"Finally," said she, "it has been decreed that you shall not only have the blessing of death, but that you shall have the rare honor of belonging to the chosen few who are reserved for the Mista Kosek. Thus far this had not been granted.
I should like to be viewed with contempt, and considered unworthy of death and the Mista Kosek, and other such honors."
"I have everything that heart can wish," said the Chief Pauper to me once. "Look at me, Atam-or, and see me as I stand here: I have poverty, squalor, cold, perpetual darkness, the privilege of killing others, the near prospect of death, and the certainty of the Mista Kosek all these I have, and yet, Atam-or, after all, I am not happy." To this strange speech I had nothing to say.
"Who were the victims of the Mista Kosek?" "They?" said he, with an agreeable smile. "Oh, they were the victims of the sacrifice." I sank back in my seat, and said no more. The Kohen then took Almah's lute, played and sang in a very sweet voice, and at length, with his usual consideration, seeing that I looked weary, he retired.
The sacrifice is but a part it is but the beginning. Death is terrible; yet it may be endured if there is only death. But oh! oh think! think of that which comes after the Mista Kosek!" Now the full meaning flashed upon me, and I saw it all. In an instant there arose in my mind the awful sacrifice on the pyramid and the unutterable horror of the Mista Kosek. Oh, horror, horror, horror!
And I thought that since death was inevitable it were better to meet it thus, and in this way end my life not amid the horrors of the sacrifice and the Mista Kosek, but in a way which seemed natural to a seafaring man like myself, and with which I had long familiarized my thoughts.
So Almah, holding the sacrificial knife, stood looking at them, full of dignity, and spoke as follows: "We will take this, O Kosekin, and we will reward you all. We will begin our reign over the Kosekin with memorable acts of mercy. These two great victims shall be enough for the Mista Kosek of this season.
Marriage idle word! What have I to do with marriage? What has Almah? There is only one marriage before us the dread marriage with death! Why talk of love to the dying? The tremendous ordeal, the sacrifice, is before us and after that there remains the hideous Mista Kosek!" At this Layelah sprang up, with her whole face and attitude full of life and energy.
For it must never be forgotten that the Kosekin love death as we love life; and this accounts for all those ceremonies which to me were so abhorrent, especially the scenes of the Mista Kosek.
There was an Athon last year who attacked a pehmet with forty men and one hundred and twenty rowers. All were killed or drowned except himself. In reward for this he gained the mudecheb, or death recompense. In addition to this he was set apart for the Mista Kosek." "Then, with you, when a man procures the death of others he is honored?" "Why, yes; how could it be otherwise?" said the Kohen.
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