The Sacrifice
- We're at the Lee's apartment and a txiv neeb has just arrived "to perform a healing ceremony for Lia" (19.5). The family has two pigs to sacrifice—one for them and one for Lia—as well as a host of tasty Hmong food. Yes, including the pigs (after the sacrifice, that is).
- Nao Kao is preparing "spirit money"—pieces of paper meant to guide the pigs' souls through the afterlife (19.8).
- First, the txiv neeb sacrifices one pig for the family. He ties a cord from the pig to the family, symbolizing their interconnectedness, before killing the pig. Several men take it outside to prepare it for the meal.
- The txiv neeb sacrifices a chicken on Lia's behalf before bringing in her pig. The txiv neeb ties a cord from Lia to the pig, as before, and gives the pig his spirit money before he kills it. He places some "blood of the pig" on Lia's back (19.32).
- Foua brings Lia into the bedroom for the next part of the ritual. The txiv neeb remains in the living room, chanting incantations to guide Lia's soul back to her body.
- Aching to know what happens next? Well, hold your horses: it ends on that cliffhanger, pig blood and all. Not that animal sacrifice isn't an end in itself.