Summary

The novel begins with men preparing a young woman for sacrifice. They strip and bind her, cut her hair and prepare to push her to her death.

The narrative then shifts to 17-year old Silvie's first person point of view. She and her parents sit near the fire. Her dad does not let her leave, though the others have gone off into the woods. Her mother asks her to help cover the fire. She and her dad keep talking about the way Ancient British families would have done things. Professor Slade says they do not have to do everything the same as the Iron Age; they are just trying to reenact pieces of their lifestyle. Everyone except Silvie and her parents sleep in tents; they stay in a dark hut. Silvie's dad's snoring keeps her up. Her mother tells her not to stir...