"What is the reason why the athaleb goes to Magones every season?" I asked. "To take there the chief pauper of the season, who has won the prize of death by starvation. It is one of the greatest honors among the Kosekin." "Is Magones barren?" "It is an island of fire, without anything on it but craggy mountains and wild rocks and flowing rivers of fire. It stands almost in the middle of the sea." "How can we get away from here?" I asked, after some silence. "From here?--why, I open the gates, and the athaleb flies away; that is all." "But shall we not be prevented?" "Oh no. No one here ever prevents anyone from doing anything. Everyone is eager to help his neighbor." "But if they saw me deliberately mounting the athaleb and preparing for flight, would they not stop me?" "No." I was amazed at this. "But," said I, "am I not a victim--preserved for the great sacrifice?" "You are; but you are free to go where you like, and do what you like. Your character of victim makes you most distinguished. It is the highest honor and dignity. All believe that you rejoice in your high dignity, and no one dreams that you are anxious to escape." "But if I did escape, would they not pursue me?" "Certainly not." "What would they do for a victim?" "They would wonder at your unaccountable flight, and then choose some distinguished pauper." "But if I were to stay here, would they not save me from death at my entreaty?" "Oh, certainly not; they would never understand such an entreaty. That's a question of death, the supreme blessing. No one is capable of such a base act as saving his fellow-man from death. All are eager to help each other to such a fate." "But if I were to fly they would not prevent me, and they would not pursue me?" "Oh no." "Are there any in the land who are exempt from the sacrifice?" "Oh yes; the Athons, Meleks, and Kohens--these are not worthy of the honor. The artisans and tradesmen are sometimes permitted to attain to this honor; the laborers in greater numbers; but it is the paupers who are chiefly favored. And this is a matter of complaint among the rich and powerful, that they cannot be sacrificed." "Well, why couldn't I be made an Athon or a Kohen, and be exempted in that way?" "Oh, that would be too great a dishonor; it would be impossible. On the contrary, the whole people are anxious to honor you to the very uttermost, and to bestow upon you the greatest privileges and blessings which can possibly be given. Oh no, it would be impossible for them to allow you to become an Athon or a Kohen. As for me, I am Malca, and therefore the lowest in the land--pitied and commiserated by the haughty pauper class, who shake their heads at the thought of one like me. All the people shower upon me incessantly new gifts and new offices. If my present love of light and life were generally known, they would punish me by giving me new contributions of wealth and new offices and powers, which I do not want."