'What was that?'
'Some of them are female.'
'Quite right.' Thunder snapped. 'You always get a few who want to be warriors. If they can't take it you soon find out ... same as with the boys.'
Tom followed him past diminutive males and made his way along the line until they came to a hugely proportioned girl at the rear. She looked like a model for the figure they were about to enter. He took his place behind her. Thunder raised his mace and the initiates dropped their cloaks.
'You too.' He pointed at Tom.
'You want me to strip off?'
'That's right. You didn't come into the world wearing clothes last time you was born so don't think you can do it now.'
Tom removed his jeans to the applause of the crowd.
'There's another reason why you're going in there as naked as a new-born babe,' Thunder shouted over the din of female voices. 'You wouldn't want to go in with any items of apparel flapping about ... things what might impede your progress and catch alight.'
'Catch alight?'
'That's right. You're not going to pass through the goddess' body like on a quiet stroll. This time you're going to be born of fire.'
Thunder pointed to the deity's gaping mouth.
'Go in through there and don't get lost. There's only one way in and one way out. Anyone leaving by a different exit will have his head cut off.'
A woman in black walked down the line, sprinkling the initiates with liquid from a silver bowl. Tom noticed that it had begun to coagulate but didn't have time to dwell on the matter. Men with firebrands were advancing towards them. Thunder waited until the last of the young warriors had received the woman's blessing.
'Prepare to be reborn of fire.'
Thunder's baton came down. The initiates dashed forward and the men with firebrands set alight to the goddess' golden hair, which hung down in ringlets of plaited straw.
Tom was impressed. The young warriors were superb. They moved forward with speed and precision. He followed close behind the big girl and entered the deity's mouth as coils of burning straw broke loose and fell to the ground.
Naked bodies scurried ahead.
He followed them down a narrow passage and entered a chamber surmounted by two domes, which he identified as the deity's breasts. The fire was well behind but smoke was already upon them. He could hear his fellow initiates coughing but couldn't see them. Something had happened to slow them down.
Anxious moments passed and flames lit the scene. He looked around and wondered where everyone had gone. Then he saw the big girl. She was struggling to squeeze through an opening that was far too small for her oversized body. He tried to help but that made matters worse. His way was blocked and he had to get round the obstruction.