The mass of shredded bark lit and immediately began to emit a heavy, grey smoke. The priestess took hold of the back of Margie’s head and bent it forwards so that her face was immersed in the acrid, swirling cloud. Margie choked and coughed as she was forced to breathe the foul emissions from the bowl. “P-please, please,…” she croaked as the smoke burned into her lungs. She closed her mouth and held her breath, but the priestess held her head there for several minutes, waiting until she had exhausted her oxygen and was forced to take a long, deep breath. When she was sure that the unfortunate woman had had several, deep lungfuls, she released Margie’s head and dipped her own head into the smoke. She took a deep breath and then passed the smoking bowl to the other two women who did the same
