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ld faith died。 The
Terrible Fire destroyed it； and nothing more could be done。〃 Mael looked as dejected as any creature I've ever seen。 Meantime my heart was fast catching up with my mind。 I was thinking：
Here are two immortals but we cannot solace one another； we cannot have friendship。 We can only part after bitter words。 And then I'll be alone again。 I'll be proud Marius who left Pandora。 I shall have my beautiful house and all my fine possessions to myself。
I realized Avicus was staring at me； trying to probe my mind； but failing though his Mind Gift was quite terrifically strong。 〃Why do you live as vagabonds？ 〃 I asked。
〃We don't know how to live as anything else；〃 said Avicus。 〃We've never tried。 We shy away from mortals； except when we hunt。 We fear discovery。 We fear fire。〃 I nodded。
〃What do you seek other than blood？〃
A miserable expression passed over his face。 He was in pain。 He tried to hide it。 Or perhaps he tried to make the pain go away。
〃I'm not sure that we seek anything；〃 he said。 〃We don't know how。〃
〃Do you want to stay with me；〃 I asked； 〃and learn？ 〃 I felt the boldness； the presumptuousness of this question； but the words had already been said。
〃I can show you the Temples of Rome； I can show you the big palaces； the houses that make this villa appear quite humble indeed。 I can show you how to play the shadows so that mortals never see you； how to climb walls swiftly and silently； how to walk the roofs at night all over the city； never touching the ground。〃 Avicus was amazed。 He looked to Mael。 Mael sat slumped； saying nothing。 Then he pulled himself up。 In a weak voice he continued his condemnation。 〃I would have been stronger if you hadn't told me all those marvelous
things；〃 he said； 〃and now you ask if we want to enjoy the same pleasures； the pleasures of a Roman。〃
〃It's what I have to offer；〃 I said。 〃Do what you wish。〃
Mael shook his head。 He began to speak again； for the benefit of whom I don't know。
〃When it was plain that you wouldn't return；〃 he said； 〃they chose me。 I was to bee the god。 But for this to happen we had to find a God of the Grove who had not been burnt to death by the Terrible Fire。 After all； we had destroyed our own gentle god foolishly！ A
creature who had had the magic to make you。〃
I gestured as if to say； It was indeed a shame。
〃We sent word far and wide；〃 he said。 〃At last an answer came from Britain。 A god survived there； a god who was most ancient and most strong。〃
I looked to Avicus； but there was no change in his expression。
〃However we were warned not to go to him。 We were told that it was perhaps not something we should do。 We were confused by these messages； and at last we set out for we felt that we must try。〃
〃And how did you feel；〃 I asked cruelly； 〃now that you had been chosen； and you knew that you would be shut up in the oak； never to see the sun again； and only to drink blood during the great feasts and during the full moon？〃
He looked straight ahead as if he couldn't give me a decent answer to this； and then he replied。
〃You had corrupted me as I told you。〃
〃Ah；〃 I said； 〃so you were afraid。 The Faithful of the Forest couldn't fort you。 And I was to blame。〃
〃Not afraid；〃 he said furiously； clenching his teeth。 〃Corrupted as I said。〃 He flashed his small deep…set eyes on me。 〃Do you know what it means to believe absolutely nothing； to have no god； no truth！〃
〃Yes； of course I know；〃 I answered。 〃I believe nothing。 I consider it wise。 I believed nothing when I was mortal。 I believe nothing now。〃
I think I saw Avicus flinch。
I might have said more brutal things； but I saw that Mael meant to go on。
Staring forward in the same manner he told his tale： 〃We made our journey；〃 he said。 〃We crossed the narrow sea to Britain and went North to a land of green woods and there we came upon a band of priests who sang our hymns and knew our poetry and our law。 They were Druids as we were Druids； they were the Faithful of the Forest as were we。 We fell into each other's arms。〃
Avicus was watching Mael keenly。 My eyes were more patient and cold； I was sure。 Nevertheless the simple narrative drew me； I have to
confess。
〃I went into the grove；〃 said Mael。 〃How huge the trees were。 How ancient。 Any one of them might have been the Great Tree。 At last I was led to it。 And I saw the door with its many iron locks。 I knew the god
was inside。〃
Suddenly Mael glanced anxiously to Avicus； but Avicus gestured for
him to go on。
〃Tell Marius；〃 he said gently； 〃and in telling Marius； you tell me。〃 It had such a soft sound to it； this utterance。 I felt a shiver on the surface of my skin； my lonely and perfect skin。
〃But these priests；〃 said Mael； 〃they warned me。 'Mael； if there is any lie or imperfection in you； the god will know it。 He will merely kill you and you will be a sacrifice and nothing more than that。 Think deep because the god sees deep。 The god is strong but the god would be feared rather than adored and takes his vengeance； when aroused； with great pleasure。'
〃The words shook me。 Was I truly prepared for this strange miracle to e upon me？〃 He glared savagely at me。
〃I thought over everything。 Your word pictures came back to me！ The beautiful villa on the Bay of Naples。 How you had described your rich rooms。 How you had described the warm breezes and the sound of the water on the rocky shore。 How you had described your gardens。 You had spoken of gardens。 Ah； could I endure the darkness of the oak； I thought； the drinking of blood； the starvation between sacrifices； for what would this be？〃
He paused as if he couldn't continue。 Again he glanced at Avicus。 〃Go on；〃 said Avicus calmly in his deep voice。 Mael continued：
〃Then one of these priests accosted me and took me aside and he said； 'Mael； this is an angry god。 This is a god who begs for blood when he shouldn't want it。 Do you have the strength to present yourself to
him？'
〃I had no chance to answer him。 The sun had just gone down。 The grove was full of lighted torches。 The Faithful of the Forest had assembled。 All my fellow priests who had e with me surrounded me。 They were pushing me towards the oak。
〃When I reached it； I insisted that they free me。 I put my hands upon the bark； and I closed my eyes and in the silent voice； as I had prayed in my home grove； I prayed to this god。 I said 'I am of the Faithful of the Forest。 Will you give me the Sacred Blood so that I might return home and do what my people wish me to do？' 〃
Again he stopped speaking。 It was as if he was staring at something dreadful that I could not see。
Avicus spoke up again。 〃Continue；〃 he said。
Mael sighed。
〃There came a silent laugh from inside the oak； a silent laugh and an angry voice！ It went inside my head； and I was shaken by it。 And the god said to me； 'Bring me a blood sacrifice first。 Then and only then will I have the strength to make you a god。' 〃
Again Mael broke off。 Then； 〃Surely you know； Marius；〃 he said； 〃how gentle our god was。 When he made you； when he spoke to you there was nothing of anger o