The thousand candles climbing the wall in tiers burn brightly. On the altar
half a hundred incense sticks also smolder and burn. Eliana dips her thumb into 
a small clay pot on the altar, then dabs a spot of the gray paint of Cat on her 
forehead, nose, and cheeks. She uses a bowl of pure water and a fresh, clean 
towel to meticulously bathe her thumb and fingers and hands. That done, Eliana 
retreats three steps from the altar and settles slowly to her knees.