The voice paused, then spoke again: 

’Women, in your own divine names of Xochi, Xilo, Atla, and Clixto, and in the name of all the gods, I wed you to Tezcat, the creator, to sojourn with him during his stay on earth.  The god incarnate takes you in marriage whom he himself created, that the symbol may be perfect and the mystery fulfilled.  Yet lest your joy should be too full—­look now on that which shall be.’

As the voice spoke these words, many torches sprang into flame at the far end of the great chamber, revealing a dreadful sight.  For there, stretched upon a stone of sacrifice, was the body of a man, but whether the man lived or was modelled in wax I do not know to this hour, though unless he was painted, I think that he must have been fashioned in wax, since his skin shone white like mine.  At the least his limbs and head were held by five priests, and a sixth stood over him clasping a knife of obsidian in his two hands.  It flashed on high, and as it gleamed the torches were extinguished.  Then came the dull echo of a blow and a sound of groans, and all was still, till once more the brides broke out into their marriage song, a strange chant and a wild and sweet, though after what I had seen and heard it had little power to move me.

They sang on in the darkness ever more loudly, till presently a single torch was lit at the end of the chamber, then another and another, though I could not see who lit them, and the room was a flare of light.  Now the altar, the victim, and the priests were all gone, there was no one left in the place except myself and the four brides.  They were tall and lovely women all of them, clad in white bridal robes starred over with gems and flowers, and wearing on their brows the emblems of the four goddesses, but Otomie was the stateliest and most beautiful of the four, and seemed in truth a goddess.  One by one they drew near to me, smiling and sighing, and kneeling before me kissed my hand, saying: 

’I have been chosen to be your wife for a space, Tezcat, happy maid that I am.  May the good gods grant that I become pleasing to your sight, so that you may love me as I worship you.’

Then she who had spoken would draw back again out of earshot, and the next would take her place.

Last of all came Otomie.  She knelt and said the words, then added in a low voice,

’Having spoken to you as the bride and goddess to the husband and the god Tezcat, now, O Teule, I speak as the woman to the man.  You do not love me, Teule, therefore, if it is your will, let us be divorced of our own act who were wed by the command of others, for so I shall be spared some shame.  These are friends to me and will not betray us;’ and she nodded towards her companion brides.

‘As you will, Otomie,’ I answered briefly.