“It is here,” says the man who brought you, “the kudan.”

Surely, a shape hunkers in the shadow. The man cajoles the beast with a bright red ball and it steps shyly out into the light, silk draped around its head. It was born of a cow, with a human face, to tell an infallible prophecy. Insatiable curiosity brought you here, but you already feel the weight of the words about to be uttered in this room. You will leave with knowledge that will forever change you, and you don’t want to hear it. You have not the resolve.