a number, waited and said: "Aphrodite's
compliments to Hermes the Healer."

An indistinguishable voice answered her from the receiver.

"Aphrodite thanks you," the High Priestess said, "and asks if Hermes
might send one of his priests around for a few minor ministrations."

The receiver said something else.

"No," the High Priestess said. "Nothing like that. Don't you think we
have other interests--such as they are?"

Again the receiver.

"Just a black eye and some skin lacerations," the High Priestess said.
"Nothing serious."

And the receiver replied once more.

"Very well," the High Priestess said. "Aphrodite wishes you well." She
hung up.

She came back to the couch, Forrester's eyes following her every inch of
the way. She sat down, looked up and said: "What's the matter? Do I bore
you?"

"_Bore_ me?" Forrester all but cried.

"It's just--well, nothing, I suppose," the High Priestess said. "Your
expression."

"Training," Forrester explained. "An acolyte does well not to express
his emotions too clearly."

The High Priestess nodded casually and patted the couch at her side.
"Sit down here, next to me."

Forrester did so, gingerly.

A moment of silence ensued.

Then Forrester, gathering courage, said: "Thank you for getting a
Healer. But I'd like to ask you--"

"Yes?"

"How do you know I'm not under some sort of carefully concealed arrest?
After all, you said before that you were sure--"

"And I am sure," the High Priestess said. "Aphrodite herself has ordered
a sacrifice in her favor. A sacrifice from you. And Aphrodite does not
accept--much less _order_--a sacrifice from those standing in her
disfavor."

"You're--"

"I'm sure," the High Priestess said.

"Oh," Forrester said. "Good." The world was not quite as black as it
could have been. And still, it was not exactly shining white. A
sacrifice? And outside the door, Forrester could hear a disturbance.

What did that mean?

Her Concupiscence didn't seem to hear it at first. "We will perform the
rite together and--" The noise grew louder. "What's that?" she said.

It was the sound of argument. Forrester realized what had happened.
"It's the priest from Hermes," he said. "The Healer. You forgot to tell
the Captain of Myrmidons to let him in."

"My goodness!" the High Priestess said. "So I did! It slipped my mind
entirely." She touched Forrester's cheek affectionately. "Of course, I
imagine it's only natural to be a bit forgetful w