Itwasadarkwindynightandaprocessionofglitteringlightscouldbeseenmakingtheirwaytowardsthewideexpanseofwater．ThiswasDimitri’sfirstvisittotheunnamedwildernessandhewascurioustoknoasgoingon．Walkingtowardsthelights，hefoundtohissurprisethatagroupofnativeswerecarryingaoetowardstheke．Theoewasoredonbothsidesbylightedtorcheswhichillumissoleoct，anashenfaakedvirgin,staringhopelesslyaheadwithwildfrightenedeyes.Sheytherei，likeanunscaledfish，hypnotizedbyfear．Dimitriwalkeduptoanoldmanwholookedlikethechieftainoranelderandasked，
"Whatareyoudoing?Isthissomekindofritualorceremony?"
"Youmustbefromafaracesir,ifyoudon’tknowwhatisgoingon．Foryourownsake，Iwouldadviseyoutogoonyourway,asitwouldbebetterifyoukhing．"
"Iamjustapasserbyandwillsoonbeonmyway,butIamcurioustoknowwhatisgoingon．Ihopeitisnothumansacrificeyouare.”Theoldmansighedandnoddedsorrowfullyinacquiesce．
"Assir,thereisahugemohetopofGiantHill．Ifwedidnourmostbeautifulvirgineveryyearandofferherupashumansacrifice，itwillcauseterribledisastersandmanymoreliveswouldbelost.”
"Really?Whatkindofmonsterisit?"
"Itisahugebirdwithhumanheadandsnakesforhair．Go，beforeitesdownforitsyearlysacrifice．Wewillbeleavingsoontoo.”Turningtothegirlhesaid，
"Good-byeDeanna,mysweetgirl．It’sapityyouaresobeautiful.”Dimitrilookedatthebeautifulgirlwhowastearlessnow,andtoopetrifiedtomove.Hefeltapangofpityforitwasinhumantoleavesuchabeautifulhelplessyounglifetothemercyofthemonster．
"Beautyisnotasinandshouldnotbepunishedandsacrificedtoanevilmonster.”
"Butbeautyisherundoing,asthemonsterwilltakeonlythemostbeautilulvirginas.”
内容未完，下一页继续阅读