it may be that i was cursed by an enemy , or perhaps that in my arrogance i had omitted to make proper sacrifice-for surely i was not lacking in reverence to my ancestors , being careful always to visit my family 's tomb each year , and to have joss sticks always burning in the hall of ancestors- '' `` if his compositions were always so long-winded , no doubt the son of heaven lost patience and tossed him in the river , '' fergus muttered cynically .