Page 187 of Circle of Days

“Then that’s what she’ll do. She seems like a person who does what she promises.”

“I’m afraid she might change her mind.”

“It’s possible, but I’d be very surprised.”

“I love her.”

“I guessed.”

“Do you think she loves me?”

“I can’t see inside her heart, but yes, I think she adores you.”

“Adores?”

“That’s what I think.”

“Why me? She must have so many people in love with her. When she’s laughing, with her mouth wide and her hair shaking like a tree in leaf, anyone would fall in love with her.”

“She’s very alluring.”

“I haven’t felt like this before, Mamma. I thought there was something peculiar about me because I couldn’t understand why girls talked all the time about kissing and sex. I’ve never loved anyone like this. Now I know why people get obsessed about it.”

Ani smiled. “You’ve taken an awfully long time to get to this place.”

“Was it like this for you with Dadda?”

“Exactly like this.”

“Do you think she’s the one for me?”

“Yes. I’m not in any doubt. She’s the one.”

The rain stopped. Joia looked out through the door, as if Dee might be there. “I hope she comes back,” she said. “I do hope so.”

On the day of the Spring Rite, Joia was happy. The drought was over. Last summer the farmers had had their first decent harvest for four years. The winter had been mild and wet. On the Great Plain, the cows were pregnant and the herd was growing again. The sun was shining.

The gods must be pleased about the giant stone, she thought.

The number of priestesses had doubled. The thrill of rebuilding the Monument was one of the reasons, but people also said that recruits wanted to join because of Joia. She would not have said that herself, but in her heart she knew it was true.

The priestesses spent every afternoon making rope. Each of Joia’s six teams would need its own supply. To relieve the boredom Joia got them practicing songs while they worked.

The Autumn and Midwinter Rites had attracted larger crowds. Everyone wanted to see the stone. Attendance today was greater again, with hundreds more people. Joia was thrilled. Her project was bringing people back.

And the people were different. No one was scrawny or sick.They no longer walked slowly and looked scared. They did not scan the ground for something edible: a bone, a dead bird, a puppy. There was a spring in the step, a tune on the lips, a look of optimism.

It was easy to identify the different communities. The farmers were always muddy. The miners had abrasions on their hands and arms, from working with sharp stones. And those from beyond the Great Plain looked subtly different: they had longer or shorter tunics, shoes of a different pattern, odd-looking hairstyles.

Life would have been perfect for Joia if Dee had been with her. But the Midsummer Rite was soon—and it would arrive more quickly if only Joia could stop thinking about her all the time.

Meanwhile, the priestesses performed the Spring Rite at sunrise, with the more disciplined singing and dancing that Joia had introduced. Today for the first time she encouraged them to wear feathers in their hair. And she had introduced a rattle—a wooden box with pebbles inside—that Sary shook rhythmically to keep them all in time.

There was one change to the Monument, introduced overnight, probably not even noticed by most spectators: leaning up against the giant stone was a ladder, a slender tree trunk with notches cut into its sides. Seft had made it.

When the ceremony ended, Joia and two novices did not exit the Monument but instead ran to the giant stone. While the novices held the tree trunk steady, Joia climbed it, using the notches as handholds and footholds. She had practiced five days ago, as soon as Seft had finished it, but she was still unsteady. Itwobbled, despite the efforts of the novices, and she had one or two anxious moments. But she pressed on as fast as she could go, and with great relief reached the top.

She stood up and raised her arms, and the astonished crowd roared their appreciation. She was famous now, and those who did not recognize her guessed who she was. She revolved slowly, arms still raised, until she had turned full circle. Then she made calming-down gestures with both hands, and they quickly went quiet.