"Very well," Forrester said. "It was a fight. But I was attacked, and entitled to defend myself." "I'm sure," the High Priestess said. "Yet I have a question for you. Who won?" "Won? I did. Naturally." It sounded boastful, he reflected, but it wasn't. He had won, and it had been natural to him to do so. His build and strength, as well as his speed, had made any other outcome unlikely. And the High Priestess didn't seem to take offense. She said only: "I thought so. Just a moment." Then she walked over to a telephone. It was a simple act but Forrester watched it fervently. First she stood up, and then she took a step, and then another step ... and her whole body moved. And moved. It was marvelous. He watched her bend down to pick up the phone without any clear idea of the meaning of the motions. The motions themselves were enough. Every curve and jiggle and bounce was engraved forever on his mind. The High Priestess dialed 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.