Tripping in Holland P 2 1 1
Almost three hours have passed. Half a dozen men and women have
either vomited or been stretched out on mattresses at the entrance to
the church.
It is time for the second dose. I look for my mentor to tell him of
my symptoms and to ask if he thinks it wise for me to continue with
more yaje.
He says he will consult the Brazilians. Almost everyone has had a
second dose by the time my mentor takes me to the head Brazilian.
The woman interprets. When she hears my problem she laughs out
loud. Not to worry! She has had three heart attacks and a tumor on
her heart. The Daime, she assures me, is good, very good, for the
heart.
Heartened, I approach the altar and consume my second dose.
More chanting. Back in my place, I begin to feel odd. If I close my eyes
and rest them in my hands, I see against a deep dark palpable void very
fine corkscrew lines, bright scarlet, spinning in patterns that fill the
screen. It is not unpleasant, actually rather attractive, indicative of some
sort of spiral movement on a very small scale, a sort of rendition of the
subatomic world.
But now I am worried that I may lose control and that the un-
pleasant visions may start.As I look down at my hands they turn into
jaguar paws, and I feel the great energy in them as I unfurl the claws.
My mouth opens into a fanged snarl.
Better keep lucid, I reflect, and invoke my guardian angel to keep
me sane and sober.
By now the vomiting is continuous all around me, and one after the
other more mattresses are spread before the entrance to receive more
women, moaning and groaning, or making strange gestures, flexing
arms and legs, rubbing their distended stomachs. The men, though
fewer of them, also on mattresses, have mostly passed out cold.
A man in front of me, about forty, with a strongly lined face-I'm
not sure whether German or Dutch-appears to be drunk, moving his
arms and legs haphazardly to the music, as if not quite in control.
Others, their eyes closed, appear lost in reverie, moving rhythmically to
the chanting or making strange movements with their heads.