Help understanding Ribs and Lace Tank (IK)

[cds11]

I've been working my way through Interweave Knit's Rib and Lace Tank... I've gotten to where it decreases to shape the waist, and I need a little bit of help understanding what I'm supposed to do.
Here's what it says:

Dec Rnd 1: Work 8 sts in patt, ssk, work even in patt to 4 sts before side m, k2tog, work even in patt to 3 sts past side m, ssk, work in patt to last 10 sts, k2tog, work in patt to end - 4 sts dec'd; four 5-st St st columns.
Work 5 rnds even in patt.


It has me a little confused... I've managed to do the 8 sts and then ssk, but then I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do...

Help!

[Ingrid]

Dec Rnd 1: Work 8 sts in patt, ssk, work even in patt to 4 sts before side m, k2tog, work even in patt to 3 sts past side m, ssk, work in patt to last 10 sts, k2tog, work in patt to end - 4 sts dec'd; four 5-st St st columns.
Work 5 rnds even in patt.

Work 8 in pattern, ssk
Work in pattern until there are 4 stitches left before your side marker and then k2tog, work 2, slip marker, work 3, ssk.
Work even until there are 10 stitches left, p2tog and finish in pattern.

Then work 5 rounds even without increasing or decreasing.

[cds11]

Thank you so much! I think before I wasn't fully understanding what even meant, and then I just got confused.