They were a joyful village. On many occasions, the laughter and singing of celebration could be heard even from the outskirts of the town. Many called them "unruly" and "unethical" due to their behavior, but few ever paid mind to it. Although many didn't understand their customs, the town was happy. The village of Gor was, to the citizens, a place of joy, peace, and normalcy.
The yellow sun was beginning to sink below the horizon, and the villagers of Gor began to return home to their beds. After all, tomorrow was the Feast, and they would need their rest. At this time of day, the children often raced one another home from the fields, smiles upon their bare, smooth faces, and echoes of laughter bubbling from their mouths. The women left the market place in a herd, swapping cooking secrets and gossiping about the village men and the men returned home from hunting, carrying the day's kill over their shoulders.
Hunting was the most important aspect to the village's happiness. It seemed as though everything in Gor revolved around hunting. The village of Gor was a joyful one, but in order to be joyous they had to feast, and in order to feast they had to hunt. Therefore, the entire town did everything they could to supply the hunting men with sharp knives, and powerful bows. On the journey home, some men carried large game upon their shoulders, while others toted smaller, less impressive trophies.
The night before the Feast was always one of anticipation. The thought of the next day's meal and its savory meats made each villager's mouth water. Lying in bed, the children dreamt of the delicious crunch of the meal, wondering how it would be served. Will it be grilled? Baked? Thoughts, such as these, floated over the children's minds as they drifted to sleep, smiles on their faces and the warmth of desire upon their hearts.
The day of the feast had arrived! When the villagers opened the windows of their cottages, rays of bright sunshine flooded in, filling their homes with warmth and happiness. The anticipation led on as the morning passed. As the time drew near to noon, the smell of the cooking meat filled the small village of Gor.
The women were all in their kitchens, preparing the dish the way that their family most preferred. Some cut the meat into chunks for a stew, others cooked slabs of meat on a grill, marinating it with a favorite sauce or seasoning. The savory aroma filled the village, pleasing each inhabitant. The scent even reached beyond the village, resulting in disgust from some of the neighboring towns, the people of those towns covering their noses in disapproval.
When all of the meat was prepared and ready, the villagers set up many tables in the middle of Gor, to serve as a community dining room. The Feast was complete. Men, women and children ate to their hearts content, their faces covered with smiles, their anticipation finally satisfied. The cheers and laughter could be heard for miles around. The cannibals of Gor continued to feast for three and a half hours, the flesh of the neighboring tribesman and foreign villagers filling their stomachs. As the children smiled, human flesh could easily be seen, stuck between their teeth. The men of Gor would often tell hunting stories about the men that they had killed, exaggerating the size and challenge of the kill to impress one another. The women ate, mostly silent, admiring their culinary arts, and seasonings which so delicately brought out the flavor of the human flesh.
The Feast was soon over, each villager content, smiling and ready for bed. Gossip of the village of Gor spread throughout the neighboring towns and although many didn't understand their customs, the town was happy. The village of Gor was, to its inhabitants, a place of joy, peace, and normalcy.
Published 2012, Baywood Press