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will see you now.’
    He stood up, experiencing an unexpected flicker of fear. Everything had seemed so clear the last time the leader had spoken to him. Having sent the other disciples away, the leader had put his request very simply.
    ‘All the gods ask of you is one simple act of devotion, one small sacrifice to prove you are worthy to accompany us on our journey into the light of salvation.’
    It hadn’t sounded like a small sacrifice. Shocked, he had dared to challenge the leader.
    ‘Why her, of all people?’
    ‘You know the answer to that,’ the leader had answered gently, ‘just as you know what you must do.’

    Now that he was going to see him again, all at once he wasn’t sure he had understood the leader’s intentions correctly. He pulled the robe over his head. The fabric that appeared to fall in soft folds on the other disciples felt rough against his skin.
    ‘I’m ready,’ he croaked.
    He was speaking as much for himself as for her, but the girl was already walking away. He followed her slim figure back down the stairs and into a room off the hall where more white-robed disciples sat facing each other in two rows. On a dais at the far end of the room sat the leader himself, gazing down the rows towards the newcomer.
    ‘You are welcome.’
    The voice rang out, seeming to echo inside his head as the leader addressed him directly. He nodded, too overcome with emotion to speak. He was in the inner sanctuary. Nothing else mattered.
    ‘Look at this man,’ the leader told the others. ‘Look at him carefully.’
    Ten pairs of eyes turned to stare at him. He stood quite still, unable to drag his eyes away from the leader’s face.

    ‘This man wishes to join us,’ the leader said, staring at him as though reading his thoughts. ‘He wants to become a disciple. He is willing to make the supreme sacrifice and dedicate his life to our cause.’
    Embarrassed, he wanted to explain that it wouldn’t be much of a sacrifice really. His life wasn’t that great. While he wondered whether he dared speak, the leader handed each of them a small portion of ambrosia, food of the gods. As if by magic, a silver goblet appeared in the leader’s outstretched hand.
    ‘Drink from the cup of salvation,’ he intoned.
    ‘Drink from the cup of salvation,’ the disciples chanted in chorus.
    ‘He is welcome here,’ the leader said softly.
    He thought he would faint with joy as he gazed into the leader’s hypnotic eyes. The room seemed to spin until all he could see were those huge dark eyes, gazing into his mind.
    ‘I have done what you asked.’
    ‘Approach.’ The leader smiled at him. ‘We will call you Warrior.’
    ‘Thank you,’ he stammered.
    His legs crumpled beneath him and he collapsed on the floor at the leader’s feet.

    Two disciples lifted him into a chair. The leader stared at him, his eyes glowing with kindness.
    ‘Is anything troubling you?’
    Warrior hesitated.
    ‘Tell me what is in your mind,’ the leader insisted gently.
    ‘I want to stay here. Let me come and live with you, and be your disciple.’
    The leader shook his head, his expression sad.
    ‘You are not yet ready to live among us, but your time will come soon. Don’t be afraid. One day you will perform a great service for the cause, and you will never leave us again. Now, tell me, was it done wisely?’
    He nodded his head, eager to tell the leader how he had found her sitting on a park bench in the park one evening. The place had been deserted. It had been easy. But the leader raised his hand.
    ‘We will not speak of this again. Come, sit with us until you have to leave.’
    At a signal from the leader the disciples sat down.

    A few motes of dust floating in the air vanished as he sat among them, relieved that he had passed the test. The room fell silent. All eyes remained fixed on the leader’s beatific smile. His silent presence reassured them of the peace that passed all understanding. Nothing ever stirred in that silent