The Terrible Meal

Abstract

And all these things took place in the City of Roses, hard by the Willamette River, in the not-quite-final throes of the Age of Acceleration. Ourtina strove for six days and nights, until the guttural moans of a birth agony issued from hir chamber. And when s/he had accepted the Final Sacrifice, s/he summoned the Cannibals. S/he prostrated before them, saying, my daughters. Ourtina, they answered, making reverence with wrists crossed on breastbones, fingers grazing clavicles. Daughters, I've a riddle. Who among you can guess the answer? So they all clamored, begging to be tested. Ourtina said, the wound I'm thinking of is both throat and blade. Tell me its name. Melissande guessed a supermax prison. Moacir guessed phalloplasty. General Lizz guessed a city. Changing Suffering guessed a cunt. But Nonnieboy guessed correctly, saying, the world. Then all began to mourn and to beseech, crying, Mother, Mother. Tears drenched their cheeks and dampened their clothing. Only General Lizz stood silent, desert-eyed.