“But why would anybody want to do something like that?” Cassie wondered aloud.
“To the San, the python is one of the most sacred of creatures,” Griffin answered. “It is the largest snake in this part of the world. In the San origin myth, it is said that all humans are descended from a great python. In fact, the dry riverbeds that are so prevalent in the area were supposedly created by the movements of the huge snake in its endless search to find water in the desert.”
Cassie made no move to touch the sculpture. She regarded it warily. “This cave must have been a holy place to the people who lived around here. It was like their church.”
“You’re right,” Bobbye confirmed. “To this day, the cave is considered sacred. At least a few archaeologists believe ancient rituals were performed here. Stone spear points which were left as offerings are about seventy thousand years old. That chronology upsets the mainstream view that humans didn’t start performing religious rites until forty thousand years ago.”
Cassie looked at the scrivener suspiciously. “What are we doing here? Griffin, is this where the surprise comes in?”
The Brit cleared his throat uncomfortably. “We’d like... ahem... that is...we thought... perhaps... you might validate the Python Stone for us.”
“That thing?” Cassie drew back.
“Nice going!” Erik shot Griffin a scornful glance.” Then turning to Cassie, he added, “It wasn’t supposed to come out like that, but Griffin was afraid if he told you too much ahead of time, it might affect the outcome of your reading.”
“I get the part about not telling me too much, but giving me some advance warning might have been a good way to go.” The pythia walked toward the head of the snake, eyeing it dubiously. “Guys, this thing is beyond ancient. I don’t even have to touch it to know that. I’m getting vibes from everything here. The painting, the walls, the snake. All of it. I’m not sure I know how to deal with an artifact like this. It’s so alien to anything I’ve channeled before. Who knows what’s waiting for me down this particular rabbit hole?”
Her two teammates traded concerned glances. Bobbye offered no comment, but her face wore a troubled expression.
Erik stepped forward. “Look, if you’d rather not, nobody is going to force you.”
“Absolutely,” Griffin hastened to concur. “If this frightens you, please don’t feel you should. I realize it was stupid of me not to give you at least a hint of our intentions.”
Cassie regarded the snake in silence for several more seconds, debating with herself. Then she sighed. “It’s OK. I needed a minute to process the idea, but I’m over it. Stuff like this is in my job description, right?”
“I believe you said the same thing just before you touched that obsidian dagger in Turkey,” Griffin commented. “It proved to be a most unpleasant experience for you.”
Erik turned pale at the mention of the episode. “Cass, don’t do it. This artifact doesn’t matter to the relic hunt. It’s just a side trip.”
“Thanks,” Cassie said in a soft voice. “I appreciate that you guys want to give me an easy out, but we’re already here. It would be a shame to pass up a chance to understand what happened in this cave just because I got cold feet.”
Abruptly, she walked toward the back of the python where its body joined the rock wall and sat down beside it. “I think I should be sitting for this. It beats passing out from a standing position.”
“Good grief!” Bobbye gasped. “If that’s what you expect will happen then you definitely shouldn’t try.”
Cassie smiled up at her. “Too late. My mind’s made up. The train has left the station.” Focusing her attention on her two teammates, she said, “Guys, if I do anything strange, be prepared to shake me out of it, OK?”
They both dropped to the ground on either side of her.
“Got it,” Erik said with great determination. “At the first sign of trouble, you’re out of there.”
Bobbye knelt down a few feet from the others so as not to interfere. “I have to admit I’m curious,” she said. “I’ve never seen a pythia in action before.”
“It’s not always a pretty sight,” Cassie replied. “Trust me.” She glanced around at the three of them. “Everybody ready?”
They all nodded solemnly.
“Then let’s get started.” She leaned her head back against the stone and shut her eyes.
It took only a second to make the connection. She was still inside Rhino Cave but had landed in the consciousness of a woman sitting cross-legged on the ground in front of the snake’s head. There were a dozen other people dancing, singing and chanting around the spot where she sat. Night had fallen outside, but a bonfire illuminated the interior of the cave. The flames cast flickering shadows over the snake, making it appear to sway from side to side.
The woman was looking at a bowl resting on the earth in front of her. It held a single flower with a large white bloom. Her dark arms moved forward to grasp the flower and to cut the root at its base with a stone knife. She mashed the juice of the plant against the sides of the bowl. Then she raised the knife and made small shallow cuts in her own forehead. She smeared the juice into the cuts. After this operation was complete, she stood and joined the dance. The other people in the cave chanted and clapped louder. A few stamped their feet in time with the chant. The woman took a position at the front
