Zeus shrugged. "All sorts of places. I ran a tailor shop myself, pressing and cleaning. I understand that Poseidon and Pluto entered freak shows--they were fine attractions, too. Pan lived mostly in the forests, doing well enough for himself running wild. Diana and Athena ran a small hairdressing studio in Queens. And Venus--" "Please," Venus interrupted. "Perfectly honorable profession," Zeus objected. "One of the oldest. Perhaps the very oldest. And I don't see why--" "Please!" Venus insisted. Zeus shut up with a little sigh. "At any rate," Bor Mellistos said, "that's the story up to date. And now there's only the question of the Overseer positions. Would you like to fill them?" "Who?" Venus asked. "_Us?_" "Well," Bor Mellistos said, "you have the experience. And we do need someone to take over. You see, three thousand years ago your technical attainments were not large. There was little need for an Overseer. Now, however, you are nearly at the stage where you will be invited to join the Galactic Federation. And we must make sure you do not do any irreparable harm to yourselves during the next few years." "Well," Forrester said, "how could we--" "If you'll permit me, sir," Bor Mellistos said, "I can explain. You would work much as the so-called Gods did--but with no publicity, and a greater sense of responsibility, if you understand me. Earth would never know you were there." "I'd have to--stay away from mortals?" Forrester asked. "Exactly," Bor Mellistos said. Well, Forrester thought, it had its compensations. In the three days that the Detective Inspector had been on Earth, Forrester had had time to think and to find out some things. Gerda, for instance, was getting married to Alvin Sherdlap. Forrester wondered what kind of love would let a woman choose a name like Gerda Sherdlap, and decided it was better not to think about it. What did he have to go back to? History classes? Students? Even students like Maya Wilson? Well, he was sure he could do better than that. He looked at Diana and became even surer. "The remaining eleven Overseers," Bor Mellistos was saying, "will be along shortly. You will then be able to draw fully on the machine. You need merely follow world events and make sure that any--ah--regrettably _final_ decisions are not made. Your actions will, of course, be very much undercover." Forrester nodded. "This mass arrest of the Gods is going to cause an upheaval all by itself." "Quite true, sir. But that will be worked out. I'm afraid I don't really know the details, but doubtless the other eleven who are coming will inform you more thoroughly on that score." Forrester sighed. "About the Gods--what kind of punishment will they receive?"