“Because mankind’s salvation is attained through God’s sacrifice, Nathan. To keep the world in balance, there has to be payment for everything gained.” Uncle Aaron pulled a long wooden statue from under his seat. It was a woman. Huge eyes, lidless and wide-open in a permanent state of wakefulness, took up most of the face.

“What’s that?”

“A statue of your ma’s sickness. I carved it myself out of good oak hardwood. My labor adds value to the offering.” Uncle Aaron floated the statue on the water. It bobbed on the surface. “Water has power. It heals. It gives life. I’m asking the gods of this lake to cure your ma. The Celts worshipped the earth long before anyone even thought about Christianity. The principles aren’t that different, though. Salvation through sacrifice. That’s your ancestry, Nathan. And your legacy.”

Uncle Aaron dipped his hand in the water. He brought a palm full to Nathan’s face and wiped the cool liquid across his forehead, down his cheeks and neck, like a baptism.

“Doesn’t the water need to be blessed?” Nathan asked.

“Take a good look around, Nathan. The gods already blessed this place.” Uncle Aaron doused his own face and set a huge, wet hand on the top of Nathan’s head. “Thy faith make thee whole.”

The warmth of his uncle’s love spread through Nathan’s chest.

“There’s one more thing you need to know about sacrifices, Nathan. They have to come from the heart, the cost offered willingly and without regret. That’s the key to true salvation.”

Nathan raised the posthole digger in both hands and slammed it into the earth. He turned the tool and clamped the jaws closed and withdrew the tool, dumping the dirt in a pile to the side. He repeated the act until sweat dripped down his chest, and his back muscles ached.

Physical pain was a welcome relief from the agony in his head.

If only he could close his eyes. Sleep, just for a couple of hours. But it was not to be. Over the last few weeks, he’d lost the ability to do anything but doze for minutes at a time. His thoughts grew more muddled each day. His time was running out. Beltane was truly his last chance.