It was a time of trouble, and people went around armed: holsters, knives, photos, pepper spray. What were the terms? We weren’t sure, but they were loaded. Whispering among us, we approached the temple. A woman waited at the top of the steps, veiled in underground pomegranates. She stood sideways between the pillars, one half in the shadows behind her. Look, she said, raising her veil, and with the other arm beckoned Come. A hush fell over us. We surrendered our arms and went in.
