She was standing quite close to
me, so close that her bare arm touched mine as she finally faced
Issus, Goddess of Life Eternal.
I could not see the girl's face as her eyes rested for the first
time on the Supreme Deity of Mars, but felt the shudder that ran
through her in the trembling flesh of the arm that touched mine.
"It must be dazzling loveliness indeed," thought I, "to cause such
emotion in the breast of so radiant a beauty as Phaidor, daughter
of Matai Shang."
"Let the woman remain. Remove the man. Go." Thus spoke Issus, and
the heavy hand of the officer fell upon my shoulder. In accordance
with his instructions I dropped to my hands and knees once more
and crawled from the Presence. It had been my first audience with
deity, but I am free to confess that I was not greatly impressed--other
than with the ridiculous figure I cut scrambling about on my marrow
bones.
Once without the chamber the doors closed behind us and I was bid
to rise. Xodar joined me and together we slowly retraced our steps
toward the gardens.
"You spared my life when you easily might have taken it," he said
after we had proceeded some little way in silence, "and I would aid
you if I might. I can help to make your life here more bearable,
but your fate is inevitable. You may never hope to return to the
outer world."
"What will be my fate?" I asked.
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