But there was no point in dithering. If death was to be his fate, that would be that. He could do nothing at all by sitting in his room and waiting for them to come and get him. He focused the exit terminal in Diana's apartment. There was no way of knowing whether the focus worked or not until he stepped through. He opened his eyes and walked into the Veil. He felt almost disappointed when he looked around him. He had steeled himself to do great battle with the Gods--and, instead, he was where he had wanted to be, in Diana's apartment. She was standing with her back to him, and Forrester didn't make a sound, not wanting to startle the Goddess. She was totally unclad, her glorious body shining in the light of the room, her blue-black hair unbound and falling halfway down her gently curved back. But she must have heard him somehow, for she turned, and for half a second she stood facing him. Forrester did not move. He couldn't even breathe. Every magnificent curve was highlighted in a frozen tableau. Then there was a sudden flash of white, and she was clad in a clinging _chiton_ which, Forrester saw, served only to remind one of what one had recently seen. It worked very well, although Forrester did not think he had any need for an aid to his memory. "My goodness!" Diana said. "You shouldn't surprise a girl like that! I mean, you really gave me a shock, kid!" Forrester took his first breath. "Well," he said, "I could be dishonest, not to mention ungallant, and tell you I was sorry." "But?" Diana said. "Being of sound mind and sound body, I'm a long way from being sorry." And Diana dropped her eyes and blushed. Forrester could barely believe it. But it did show a part of the Goddess's personality that was entirely new to him. He was sure that any of the Gods or Goddesses could sense when a Veil of Heaven was forming near them, and get prepared before it was well enough developed to allow for passage. But Diana--who was, after all, one of the traditionally virgin Goddesses, like Pallas Athena--had chosen to pretend surprise. Forrester had a further hunch, too. He thought she might have deliberately vanished her _chiton_ only a second or so before he entered. And that put a different--and a very interesting--face on things. Not to mention, he thought, an entire figure. But he didn't say anything. That wasn't his main business in Diana's apartment. Instead, he watched her smile briskly and say: "Well, you're here, anyhow, kid, and I guess that's enough for me. Want a drink? I could whip up some nectar--and maybe an ambrosia sandwich?" "I'll take the drink," Forrester said. "I'm not really hungry, thanks." Diana held out her hands, fingers curved inward, and a crystal cup of clear, golden liquid appeared in each--matter transmission, of course, not magic. She handed one over to Forrester, who took it and looked the Goddess straight in the eyes.