“So we have to make sure we stop it here," he said."Exactly. Well,you asked me to get you as close to the water as possible.I presume you have a plan?""My love,I always have a plan."They heard footsteps rattling behind them and turned as Prometheus and Niten came hurrying up. They were both carrying fishing rods over their shoulders.The slender Japanese man grinned. "Do not ask him how much it cost to hire these," he said."How much?" Nicholas asked."Too much," Prometheus answered furiously. "I could have bought an entire fishing boat,or at least a very good fish dinner,for what it cost to rent them for a couple of hours," he grumbled. "Plus a deposit in case we don't bring them back.""What's the plan?" Niten asked. He held out an empty bucket. "We can'nt really go fishing. We don't have bait.""Oh,but we do." Nicholas smiled. "You are our bait.”

“Two against thirty two,” Niten said. “Good odds.”“I’ve never fought the Spartoi before,” Prometheus admitted. “I only know of them by their reputation—and it’s fearsome.”“We have an equal reputation,” Niten said.“Well, you do,” the Elder said. “I was never that much of a fighter. And after the fall of the island, I rarely took up weapons again.”“Fighting is a skill you never forget,” Niten said, a touch of sadness in his voice. “I fought my first duel when I was thirteen. I’ve been fighting ever since.”“But you are more than just a swordsman,” Prometheus said. “You are an artist, a sculptor and a writer.”“No man is ever just one thing,” Niten answered. His shoulder dropped and his short sword appeared in his left hand, water droplets sparkling from the blade. “But first and foremost, I was always a warrior.” He jabbed his sword into the fog and stirred it like liquid.”

“The only consolation we have is that few of those will have active weapons either," Prometheus told them.Palamedes looked over at Scathach. "When you say 'few...,'" she began."Some will be armed," Prometheus clarified."Incoming!" Saint-Germain yelled. "Two of them have launched missiles.""Sit down and strap yourselves in," Prometheus commanded. The group scrambled to get into the seats behind him, and he added, "We're too slow to outrun them, and the smaller ones are infinitely more maneuverable.""Is there good news?" Scathach demanded."I am the finest flier in Danu Talis," The Elder said.Scathach smiled. "If anyone else said that I would think they were boasting. But not you,Uncle."Prometheus glanced quickly at the Warrior. "How many times do I have to tell you-I'm not your uncle.""Not yet,anyway," she muttered under her breath."Everyone strapped in?" Prometheus asked. Without waiting for an answer, he brought the triangular vimana straight up into the air, then flipped it back, so that the ground was directly overhead and the sky below them, before he leveled it off and the earth and sky resumed their normal positions."I'm going to throw up," Scatty muttered.”

“We look high and low for God, but somehow He's not there. So we blame Him and tell ourselves that He must have forgotten us. Or else we decide that He left us long ago, if He was ever around.""How strange," the little fish said, "to miss what is everywhere.""Very strange," the old whale agreed. "Doesn't it remind you of fish who say they're thirsty?”

“Niten drew in a deep shuddering breath and the air was suffused with the delicate odor of green tea.“And Tsagaglalal . . .”“Yes, Father?”Prometheus closed his eyes. “Tell Niten to find Aoife and ask her the question. Tell him . . . tell him she will say yes.”

“Half fish," he said. "Fish that you were. I am sorry that I went too far out. I ruined us both. But we have killed many sharks, you and I, and ruined many others. How many did you ever kill, old fish? You do not have that spear on your head for nothing.”

“John,be reasonable," Virginia said. "I've known Billy a very long time, and we have had some great adventures together. He's as close as I have to a friend.When he dies, which he will,sooner or later,because he can be so stupid," she added, glaring at the American immortal, "it should be with a degree of dignity,rather than being fed to this...this thing.""Thanks," Billy wheezed."You're welcome.And you owe me.""I'll remember."Virginia turned back to Dee. "I'll make a deal.""For what?" he demanded."For Billy's life," she said evenly."Do you forget who you're dealing with?" Dee snarled."Do you?" she asked softly.”