The funeral begins as the last glimmer of the sun drops below the horizon. Little clay bowls holding burning oil are handed round and Theo gravely cups his between his hands, feeling the warmth, smelling the smoke. For now, the flame is hidden under a clay lid. The dozens of pilgrims form circles around the body, now wrapped in colourful scarves, a shadow at the centre of a circle of shadows.
Tesfaya’s voice rings out in a singing chant, and all at once the covers are removed, the lights spring up. The pilgrims begin to walk and dance, some clockwise, some widdershins, joining in the chant, and Theo follows. He realizes: they form a sun formed of shifting lights.
The ritual continues for some time with personal recollections mixed with ritual phrases until the climax: Tesfaya does something and suddenly flames lick across the body. Theo wrinkles his nose expecting the smell of burning flesh - they haven’t built a bier big enough to properly cremate a corpse. A shout rings out from the pilgrims and a tongue of liquid sunlight flashes down from the sky to touch Fana.
When Theo can see again, the funeral is over; the body is gone.
Immediately, there is bustle and even laughter as the camp turns to the cook fires and begins serving up the simmering curry and wine. Music is struck up on flutes and drums, lively and cheerful - although Theo notices some of the same melodies as in the funeral, now played in a happier key.
He finds Jes, and sees that she has found both her spear and food for both of them, and they hungrily eat their fill. Hot spices and sweet wine are perfect for the gathering chill of the desert night.
“The Kingfisher Cult didn’t mention giant cactus-men,” says Theo, after his first bowl of curry.
“And you think that would be relevant to gathering cactus flowers,” agrees Jes. “Are they guardians of the flowers? Do you think they got the other guy the cult sent – Sama-Lan?”
Theo doesn’t answer, instead rising to get them both more curry, nodding amiably to the man tending the pot and to others he passes on his way back to Jes.
“The fire at the funeral,” she begins, “that was a Spirit, right? The ‘Waters of the Sun’ they worship. Seems powerful; perhaps we should see if we can get them on our side?”
“There’s power here,” agrees Theo, “But the fire… A death blessing is a miracle beyond normal gifts of the gods.”
Before he can say more, Tesfaya is approaching them.