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Then caray hair against my neck

"I will go with you north, my child," she said

I was overwhelratitude I threw my arms around her, I held her hard cold body close to me, and I shook with sobs

"Yes, dear, dear little one," she said "I will stay with you I ao to God's Justice, as we all must "

"Then we dance in jubilation!" cried Santino "Satan and Christ, brothers in the House of the Lord, we give you this perfected soul!"

He threw up his arms

Allesandra stepped back fro but only ratitude that she would be with me, that I would not make this awful terrible journey alone With me, Allesandra, with me Oh, Fool for Satan and the God Who made him!

She stood beside Santino, tall as he was,her hair from side to side

"Let the dancing begin!" she cried

The drums became a thunder, the horns wailed, and the thump of the tambourines filled my ears

A long low cry rose fro hands, they began to dance

I was pulled back into the chain they ht as the figures turned this way, then that, then broke free and leapt spinning into the air

I felt the wind on the back of my neck as I turned, as I leapt I reached out with perfect accuracy to receive the hands on either side of ain

Above, the silent clouds thickened, curled and sailed across the darkling sky The rain caures, in the crackle of fire and the torrent of drums

I heard it I turned and leapt high into the air and received it, the silvery rain floating down toof the dark Heavens, the baptismal waters of the damned