...of the final judgement

Ling bowed silently, because he knew no one was allowed to speak before the priests masked for the New Year's celebration, or at the final judgement which concludes each human life. Esel was also silent, intimidated by the five shamans who would soon either grant her solemn reward or announce her final punishment. Pablo was astonished to find himself facing a tribunal, for he had never believed that punishment or reward awaited men after death.

No one spoke or moved and the silence soon became intolerable. Pablo stared at the five judges, waiting for a gesture or a word. But these five figures were totally devoid of expression, enclosed in their masks. The one in the middle was sitting on a raised platform higher than the others, perhaps he was the chief magistrate. His arm was resting on an enormous leather-bound book of parchment. His marble-like mask reminded Pablo of an ancient fountain, and for a moment he half-expected to see a jet of water gush forth from the judge's mouth. The chairs of the two figures sitting beside him were placed on a lower platform. One of them was wearing a yellow Chinese mask with a drooping black moustache, while the other wore an African mask with big lips. The masks were quite cheap looking, made of papier-mache, like children's carnival masks. The chair of the fourth was still lower. His face was hidden behind a ruddy Santa Claus mask, with puffy cheeks and a beard and moustache of cotton wool. He reminded Pablo of snow, fireplaces, Christmas trees and lighted candles. On the other side of Santa Claus sat the last judge, in a handsome scarlet mask made of some shiny, expensive material. The sunken cheeks and tightly drawn features of his mask created a most disturbing effect. Pablo felt afraid as he contemplated these five judges: their immobility, their silence, their very existence were bewildering, absurd. He was frightened, for he could not decide whether they were giant puppets which he could easily knock over with one blow, or supernatural beings of great power. Were they really here to pass sentence? Then why were they silent? Pablo could resist no longer.

[The White Book, Scanziani, P.]

- submitted by Pearce, M A.