Ak'iok-ak

The Ak'iok-ak was a Martian burial ritual reserved for enemy kings. The ritual consisted of prayers, and the reciting of the phrase "most worthy oppononent, most perfect foe". The individual perfomring the ritual then raised a sword over the grave before kneeling and praying for a rematch in the afterlife. Hass performed this ritual for Bernice Sumerfield's cat, Wolsey. Despite the cat not being an enemy king, Hass decided that it was the only ritual suitable for the job, because friends and allies were always stuck with paltrier send offs. (PROSE: Inappropriate Laughter)