The Double Tongue by William Golding Page A

covered in white, all but her face. Her eyes were fixed and only looked where her head turned. It was difficult to believe that they did not see. They had no what we call pin and web, a hardening of the eye’s very material. They shone and you would have said pierced but they did not move. As for the rest of her face, it was the very image of age, and stripped down next to the bone.
    ‘Child, you have been chosen for a rare post. Sometimes there is only one Pythia, usually two, but now and then, when the future is blind and dark as my eyes, there are three. In due time you will be the third Pythia.’
    I don’t know what I said or did. Ionides told me that I was crying out about not going down into that place and he had a hard job to hold me from running away anywhere. I came to myself a little and when he felt me stop struggling he let me go. The Pythia spoke behind me and I turned to her.
    ‘Gracious Lady –’
    ‘It is no use, child. Whatever you call him, he has us in his hands. It is simpler to go with the tide. He is merciful to his own. When it became too much he took away my sight so that I should not see him. But that was long ago. Perhaps I dreamed it. Certainly my sight has gone. But now you know why you are here. Be strong and perhaps the god will not demand a torn mouth or blind eyes from you. Be strong. Wise men will take care of you. For the rest, guard your virginity. The god himself will direct them and woe betide you if you transgress. I will not be long, for I am older than any woman should have to be. Prepare yourself.’
    ‘I don’t know how – or for what!’
    ‘Ionides knows how or says he does. For me, all that is long ago. Too long ago. I expect, though, he will tell you to read books until scraps of other people’s words come up in your speech like a sweet vomit.’
    ‘I rescued you from what you were taught to call home, Arieka. Now you must do as I say. I am your guardian and shall not be unkind to you, believe me. Remember I have already given you a bookroom!’
    ‘Ionides knows everything, child. You will never see round him. Even I, after all these years have never met such a man. I think I know what he wants but I cannot be sure. All I will tell you is that a good workman pays attention to his tools. You will be kept clean and bright and slightly oily. And sharp.’
    ‘I shall keep her simple, charming, innocent –’
    ‘Credulous –’
    ‘Now, who is being clever? You must forget that word, Arieka, as I shall have to forget your name. It is a sacrilege to call the Pythia by her given name. We must all forget it, little one. I shall call you that when we are alone.’
    ‘You will do yourself no good by teasing her, Ionides. When she is inducted she will be the Pythia and don’t forget it. She will belong to the god, not to you.’
    ‘I am abashed, Reverend Mother.’
    She laughed.
    ‘That is another thing I am unable to believe. Goodbye for today, child. Come and visit me often. I enjoy the scent of simple country flowers.’
    ‘I will bring you some, Reverend Mother.’
    ‘A good girl, Ionides. You see?’
    ‘I do indeed. Come, little one and Pythia that is to be.’
    I followed him back to what he had told me was my apartment. Once there he told me that we ought to eat something and might he do so with me? I was overcome by the day’s journey, the bookroom and now the thought of not just sitting stiffly upright on a chair but eating with a man – but he was my guardian and I imitated the Second Lady as best I could. The slave who had opened the door for us had disappeared but came back almost at once, and before I was properly reclined, with bread and olives, slices of cucumber and the mildest goat’s cheese that I had ever tasted. There was wine too. He offered it to me and I did not know what to do. Ionides spoke.
    ‘I think three to one, Gracious Lady.’
    Obedient to my gesture of assent the slave mixed the wine and water, set the cups on either table then