To chapter #1: http://stage.co.il/Stories/404904

7: The Escape

Thursday came faster than I expected.
I was woken up at about 4:00 am. "Today is the great day,"
said the short and dark-skinned man who was my guard on the
previous occasion. "Come with me and wash." I accompanied
him to the other side of the village. There was a pool with
water flowing in and out - from a spring, by the look of
it.
At my guard's bidding I undressed and went into the water.
It was ice-cold. I shivered.
"Immerse your entire body, including the head," my guard
shouted at me. I did.
Then I was given a large bucket of hot water, which I poured
over myself. It felt good.
I was given a lump of some stuff I did not recognize. "Rub
your skin with this," the guard ordered. It was soap, of a
primitive kind.
After I finished and dressed in new clothes, in which I hid
my flashlight, we went to the central plaza. In the middle
there was a large pile of wood, in the middle of which was a
small dais.
"Take courage," I heard a sudden whisper behind me. I turned
around. It was Daria. I was about to speak but she motioned
with her finger on her lips that I should remain silent. She
took a stand a few feet away.

The High Priest stood in a jejune fashion near the dais and
started the rite. Soon enough my thoughts wandered. Suddenly
my guard pushed me from behind. "Go down to the dais," he
murmured. I started. The flashlight fell, and I bent down to
pick it up. "Leave that stupid thing," my guard hissed. I
picked it up nevertheless. The guard pulled harshly at my
hand and tugged me forcibly down to the dais. I was motioned
to stand on it, which I did.

Suddenly it dawned on me that, unless a miracle occurred,
this was going to be my last day in this life. I raised my
eyes and prayed silently to God: "Please, Lord, my God and
the God of my fathers, save me..."

Suddenly, the Priest said something and the entire audience
went on their knees. Without thinking, I just knew what to
do. I jumped off the dais and started running. Hands
snatched at me. I tore at them wildly and continued to run.
The Priest shouted: "Seize him!" I stopped, turned around
and shone my flashlight at the dais.
Nothing happened. I turned it off, then back on at the pile
of wood next to the dais.
The pile erupted in flames.
The entire audience shouted, as if in reflex: "Molekh is the
King! Molekh is the God!" but I didn't wait for the rest. I
ran around to where Daria was standing and whispered, "After
me!" We ran to the hills.

to next chapter: http://stage.co.il/Stories/537268737