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Reading Gentle's bewilderment as anxiety； Athanasius said； 〃Now I begin to see the fear。 This ground is sacred to the Goddess。〃 〃Why？〃
〃Because tradition says a great crime was mitted against Her sex near this spot。 A woman from the Fifth Dominion was raped hereabouts； and the spirit of the Holy Mother calls sacred any ground thus marked。〃 He went down on his haunches and uncovered another of the statues； touching it reverentially。 〃She's with us here；〃 he said。 〃In every statue。 In every stone。 In every gust of wind。 She blesses us； because we dare to e so close to Her enemy's Dominion。〃
〃What enemy？〃
〃Are you not allowed to utter his name without dropping to your knees？〃 Athanasius said。 〃Hapexamendios。 Your Lord； the Unbeheld。 You can confess it。 Why not？ You know my secret now； and I know yours。 We're transparent to each other。 I do have one question； however； before you leave。〃 〃What's that？〃
〃How did you find out we worship the Goddess？ Was it Floccus who told you or Nikaetomaas？〃
〃Nobody。 I didn't know and I don't much care。〃 He started to walk towards the man。 〃I'm not afraid of your Virgins； Athanasius。〃
He chose one nearby and unveiled her； from starry crown to cloud…treading toe。 Her hands were clasped in prayer。 Stooping； just as Athanasius had； Gentle put his hand over the statue's knitted fingers。
〃For what it's worth；〃 he said； 〃I think they're beautiful。 I was an artist once myself。〃
〃You're strong。 Maestro； I'll say that for you。 I expected you to be brought to your knees by Our Lady。〃
〃First I'm supposed to kneel for Hapexamendios； now for the Virgin。〃
〃One in fealty； one in fear。〃
〃I'm sorry to disappoint you； but my legs are my own。 I'll kneel when I choose to。 If I choose to。〃
Athanasius looked puzzled。 〃I think you half believe that；〃 he said。
〃Damn right I do。 I don't know what kind of conspiracy you think I'm guilty of； but I swear there's none。〃
〃Maybe you're more His instrument than I thought；〃 Athanasius said。 〃Maybe you're ignorant of His purpose。〃
〃Oh； no；〃 Gentle said。 〃I know what work I'm meant to do； and I see no reason to be ashamed of it。 If I can reconcile the Fifth I will。 I want the Imajica whole； and I'd have thought you would too。 You can visit the Vatican。 You'll find it's full of Madonnas。〃
As though inspired to fury by his words； the wind beat at the walls with fresh venom； a gust finding its way into the chamber； raising several of the lighter shrouds into the air and extinguishing one of the lamps。
〃He won't save you；〃 Athanasius said； clearly believing this wind had e to carry Gentle away。 〃Nor will your ignorance； if that's what's kept you from harm。〃
He looked back towards the bodies he'd been studying as Floccus departed。
〃Lady； forgive us；〃 he said； 〃for doing this in your sight。〃
The words were a signal； it seemed。 Four of the figures moved as he spoke； sitting up and pulling the shrouds from their heads。 No Madonnas these。 They were men and women of the Dearth； carrying blades like crescent moons。 Athanasius looked back at Gentle。
〃Will you accept the blessing of Our Lady before you die？〃 he said。
Somebody had already begun a prayer behind him； Gentle heard； and he glanced around to see that there were another three assassins there； two of them armed in the same lunatic fashion； the third…a girl no more than Huzzah's age； bare…breasted； doe…faced…darting between the rows uncovering statues as she went。 No two were alike。 There were Virgins of stone； Virgins of wood； Virgins of plaster。 There were Virgins so crudely carved they were barely recognizable； and others so finely hewn and finished they looked ready to draw breath。 Though minutes before； Gentle had laid his hand on one of this number without harm； the spectacle faintly sickened him。 Did Athanasius know something about the condition of Maestros that he； Gentle； didn't？ Might he somehow be subjugated by this image； the way in an earlier life he'd been enthralled by the sight of a woman naked； or promising nakedness？
Whatever mystery was here； he wasn't about to let Athanasius murder him while he puzzled it out。 He drew breath and put his hand to his mouth as Athanasius drew a weapon of his own and started towards him at speed。 The breath proved faster than the blade。 Gentle unleashed the pneuma； not at Athanasius directly； but at the ground in front of him。 The stones it struck flew into pieces； and Athanasius fell back as the fusillade hit him。 He dropped his knife and clamped his hands to his face； yelling as much in rage as in pain。 If there was a mand in his clamor the assassins missed or ignored it。 They kept a respectful distance from Gentle as he walked towards their wounded leader； through an air still gray with motes of pulverized stone。 Athanasius was lying on his side； propped on his elbow。 Gentle went down on his haunches beside the man and carefully drew Athanasius' hands from his face。 There was a deep cut beneath his left eye； and another above his right。 Both were bleeding copiously； as were a score of littler cuts。 None of them； however； would be calamitous for a man who wore wounds the way others wore jewelry。 They would heal and add to his sum of scars。
〃Call your assassins off； Athanasius；〃 Gentle told him。 〃I didn't e here to hurt anybody； but if you press me to k I'll kill every last one of them。 Do you understand me？〃 He put his arm beneath the man and hauled him to his feet。 〃Now call them off。〃
Athanasius shrugged himself free of Gentle's hold and scanned his cohorts through a drizzle of blood。
〃Let him pass；〃 he said。 〃There'll be another time。〃
The assassins between Gentle and the door parted； though none of them lowered or sheathed their weapons。 Gentle stood up and left Athanasius' side； passing only to offer one final observation。
〃I wouldn't want to kill the man who married me to Pie 'oh' pah；〃 he said； 〃so before you e after me again； examine the evidence against me； whatever it is。 And search your heart。 I'm not your enemy。 All I want to do is to heal Imajica。 Isn't that what your Goddess wants too？〃
If Athanasius had wanted to respond； he was too slow。 Before he could open his mouth a cry rose from somewhere outside； and a moment later another； then another； then a dozen： all howls of pain and panic； twisted into eardrum…bruising screeches by the gusts that carried them。 Gentle turned back to the door； but the wind had hold of the entire chamber； and even as he made to depart； one of the walls rose as if a titanic hand had seized hold of it and lifted it up into the air。 The wind； bearing its freight of screams； rushed in； flinging the lamps over； their fuel spilled as they rolled before it。 Caught by the very flames it had fed； the oil burst into bright yellow balls； by which light Gentle saw scenes of chaos on all sides。 The assassins were being thrown over like the lamps； unable to withstand the power of the wind。 One he saw impaled on her own blade。 Another was carried into the oil and was instantly consumed by flame。
〃What have you summoned？〃 Athanasius yelled。
〃This isn't my doing；〃 Gentle replied。
Athanasius screeched some further accusation； but it was snatched from his lips as the rampage escalated。 Another of the chamber's walls was summarily snatched away； its tatters rising into the air like a curtain to unveil a scene of catastrophe。 The storm was at work throughout the length of the tents； disemboweling the glorious and scarlet beast Gentle had entered with such awe。 Wall after wall was shredded or wrenched from the ground； the ropes and pegs that had held them lethal as they flew。 And visible beyond the turmoil； its cause： the once featureless wall of the Erasure； featureless no longer。 It roiled the way the sky Gentle had seen beneath the Pivot had roiled； a maelstrom whose place of origin seemed to be a hole torn in the Erasure's fabric。 The sight gave substance to Athanasius' charges。 Threatened by assassins and Madonnas； had Gentle unwittingly summoned some entity out of the First Dominion to protect him？ If so； he had to find it and subdue it before he had more innocent lives to add to the roster of those who'd perished because of him。
With his eyes fixed on the tear； he vac