A village in southern Britain, on the night of the summer solstice.
"This year's solstice festival bonfire is as enormous as ever." A man wiped the sweat from his brow, smiling as he looked at the fruit of his labor before him.
It was a bonfire that could truly be called "enormous," more than a person's height tall, piled layer upon layer in a magnificent heap.
An old man standing to one side nodded and said to the man, "As long as we light the bonfire, we can pray for blessings in the latter half of the year. You've worked hard this time, Eugene."
"It's nothing, Village Chief. This is for the village, so shouldn't it be grand? I—"
Ah.
Eugene grinned foolishly and scratched the back of his head, but just as he spoke, he suddenly heard it.
A strange sound?
"Eugene? What's wrong?" The old village chief asked as he watched Eugene turn his head aside in confusion.
Eugene blinked, puzzled.
Was it just his imagination?
"Eugene?" The village chief frowned. "It's time to light the bonfire."
"Ah, yes!" Eugene snapped back to his senses, hurriedly straightened up, took the burning torch from someone beside the village chief, and walked over to the massive bonfire.
He raised his head to look at the bonfire and took a deep breath.
All the villagers gathered around, ready to watch the enormous bonfire blaze on this summer solstice night.
Beneath the soaring flames, they would pray for a bountiful harvest in the latter half of the year, as well as for their families—for favorable weather, peace, and good health.
Eugene nodded to the village chief, then placed the burning torch against the bonfire.
The instant he finished, he immediately stepped back. Animal fat had been poured over the bonfire, and it