Burke turned to Ariadne. "All right, princess. We'll hide here till dark, then get you out of Knossos." A look of strain came to the girl's face. "My lord, it--it cannot be." "It can't?" "No, my lord. We--I--I dare not leave the palace. My father's men--they'd run me down within a finger's-breadth of time." "Oh?" Burke studied her. "Tell me, princess, what makes you so sure?" "It--it is the Minotaur, my brother." Ariadne's face took on a heightened color. "You see, Lord Dionysus, at my father's will the monster holds me here within the palace. No matter how I try to hide or run away, always he tracks me down." Burke stood very still. "He--tracks you down--?" "Yes, my lord." The girl raised a restless hand to smooth her jet-black hair. "His mind--it follows mine, you see. So when I would flee, he sends pursuers to drag me back." And then: "Lord Dion, I confess: at first I sought to save you so that you, a god, would slay the Minotaur and carry me away." "I see." "But now--I'm not so sure that you're a god." "So?" "So ... so...." The girl's voice broke. She hid her face. "My lord, I know only that I bear a curse. So, you must go quickly, and forget me. Because if you should die on my account, I--I--" Her words faded into sobs. A sudden tenderness rose in Burke. He held the shaking girl close. And then, all at once, the things he felt were beyond tenderness. It gave his problem a new dimension; added another element to complicate his road. "Could it be that the Minotaur and the oracle really are one?" he asked abruptly. Ariadne lifted a tear-stained face. "How did you guess, my lord?" "This mind-track business--do you have any idea how it works?" The girl's cheeks flamed. "Don't shame me, Lord Dionysus! You know he's only--half--my brother." "And on account of that wild story about the sacred bull and your mother, Pasiphae, you think he's got powers beyond the human?" Burke snorted. "Believe me, princess, it isn't true. Either that creature's not half a bull, or else he's not half your brother. A thing called science says it can't be." He grinned suddenly. "My own bet's that he's neither bull nor human. And maybe the best way to check on that is to ask your mother a few questions." "Then I'll come with you!" This eagerly, from Ariadne. Burke shook his head. "No. We'll not risk your pretty neck on the kind of thing I need to do." "To walk with a god can bring no risk, my lord." "That's just the trouble, princess," Burke acknowledged ruefully. "You see, you were right. I'm a man, not a god." "Then all the more reason for me to stay with you." "There's no use arguing. It's settled." A small foot, stamping. "Lord Dion, I shall go!" "Sorry, princess." Burke smiled bleakly. "I'll see you at your quarters later. Meanwhile...." He struck quick and hard, straight to her jaw, then gently stretched her limp form on the floor.... CHAPTER VI