4
THE INTERROGATION
‘Fear!’ the corpse howled. ‘What price pays the one who replaced life and love with terror and dread in this body, who amidst joy abundant and unbounded desecrated that which was through spirit united and sanctified?’
‘What in the name of Saint Zhagev-who-sings-for-tears is he on about?’ asked Coral as Estevar led her in a spin on the polished oak dance floor. ‘Sounds like he’s talkin’ about a religious rite, not some poncey ballroom gala.’
Ah, exactly! Estevar thought as he spun the shaven-headed young woman through the middle measures of the pivousette. All those bodies, those spirits, dancing joyously together. Not so different from a shared act of ritual prayer.
‘Murder!’ the corpse howled again.
‘Who killed you?’ the Viscount called out. ‘Tell us Prissard, an
