rodite herself bothered him more than he
could say. The brawl was the first thing that came to mind. It didn't
seem like the sort of thing a Goddess of Love ought to have been
watching.

And then he thought of the High Priestess.

He felt a blush creeping up around his collar, and was thankful only
that it was not visible under the tan of his skin. He remembered who had
ordered the sacrificial rites, and thought bitterly and guiltily about
spectator sports.

But his face remained perfectly calm.

"So far," Venus said, "I must say that you have come through with flying
colors. You should be proud of yourself."

Forrester didn't feel exactly proud. He wanted to crawl into a hole and
die there.

"Well," he said, "I--"

"But there is more," Aphrodite said.

"More?"

The idea didn't sound attractive. In spite of what one of the tests had
involved, the notion of any more tests was just a little fatiguing.
Besides, Forrester was not at all sure that he would be at his best,
when he knew that dispassionate observers were chronicling his technique
and his every movement.

How much more, he wondered, could he take?

And, he reflected, how much more of _what_?

"We must be certain," Aphrodite said, "that you can prove yourself
worthy of the dignity of a Godling."

"Ah," Forrester said cleverly. "So there are going to be more tests?"

"There are," Venus said. "After all, you will be expected to act as the
_alter persona_ of Dionysus. That involves responsibilities almost
beyond the ken of a mortal."

Wine, Forrester thought wildly, women and song.

He wondered if he were going to be asked to sing something. He couldn't
remember anything except the _Star Spangled Banner_ and an exceptionally
silly rhyme from his childhood. Neither of them seemed just right for
the occasion.

"You must learn to behave as a true God," Venus said. "And we must know
whether you are fitted for the part."

Forrester nodded. The one thing keeping him sane, he reflected, was the
hope of insanity. But the room was still there, and Venus was standing
near him, talking quietly away.

"Thus," she said, "there must be further tests, so that we may be sure
of your capacities."

Capacities? Just what was _that_ supposed to mean? "I see," he lied.
"And suppose I fail?"

"Fail?"

"Suppose I don't live up to expectations," Forrester said.

"Well, then," Venus declared, "I'm afraid the Gods might be angry with
you."

Forrester had no