An almighty racket

摘要

First they make you drink the juice of the San Pedro cactus. Then they lead you towards the darkness. The corridors are cold, and full of twists and turns that make your head spin. Occasional shafts of bright light channelled from the world above destroy any chance that your eyes might adjust to the darkness. The cactus hallucinogen is kicking in, and the little you can make out in the murk - the carvings of leering cat faces, the statues and elaborate paintings - is horribly distorted. You go weak at the knees, but the hands at your shoulders push you relentlessly onwards, into the heart of the temple.