Dance Of Death

these masks? How do we know the Tano won't just turn around and sell them? They must be worth millions. I'm very suspicious about their motives.'

Margo bit her lip. She remembered Prine from her graduate student days: a dim bulb that had only grown dimmer with the passage of years. His life's research, she recalled, was a study of Etruscan liver divination.

'For these reasons and many others,' Prine went on, 'I'm strongly in favor of keeping the masks. In fact, I can't believe we're seriously considering returning them. We bought them, we own them, and we should keep them.' He sat down abruptly.

A short chubby man with a furze of red hair encircling a large bald spot rose next. Margo recognized him as George Ashton, chief curator of the Sacred Images exhibition. Ashton was a capable anthropologist, if temperamental and easily riled. And he looked riled now.

'I agree with Dr. Prine, and I take strong objection to this editorial.' He turned to Margo, his eyes almost popping from his round red face, chin doubling and tripling in his excitement. 'I consider it highly inappropriate that Dr. Green raised this question at this time. We're less than a week from the opening of the biggest show at the museum in years, costing almost five million dollars. The Great Kiva masks are the centerpiece of the show. If we pull those masks, there's no way the show will open on time. Really, Dr. Green, I find your timing on this matter to be truly unfortunate.' He paused long enough to give Margo a fiery stare, then turned to Menzies. 'Hugo, I propose we table this question until after the show has closed. Then we can debate it at leisure. Of course, giving back the masks is unthinkable, but for heaven's sake let's make that decision after the show.'

Margo waited. She would respond at the end-if Menzies gave her the opportunity.

Menzies smiled placidly at the indignant curator. 'For the record, George, I would note that the timing has nothing to do with Dr. Green-it's in response to the receipt of a letter from the Tano Indians, which was triggered by your own pre-publicity campaign for the show.'

'Yes, but does she have to publish this editorial?' Ashton slashed the air with a piece of paper. 'She could at least wait until after the show closes. This is going to create a public relations nightmare!'

'We are not in the business of public relations,' said Menzies mildly.

Margo cast him a grateful look. She had expected his support, but this was more than just support.

'Public relations are a reality! We can't just sit in our ivory tower and ignore public opinion, can we? I'm trying to open a show under the most trying conditions, and I do not appreciate being undercut like this-not by Dr. Green and certainly not by you, Hugo!'

He sat down, breathing hard.

Menzies said quietly, 'Thank you for your opinion, George.'

Ashton nodded curtly.

Patricia Wong, a research associate in the Textile Department, stood up. 'The issue, it seems to me, is simple. The museum acquired the masks unethically, perhaps even illegally. Margo demonstrates that clearly in her editorial. The Tano asked for them back. If we as a museum have any pretense to ethics, we should return them right away. I respectfully disagree with Dr. Ashton. To keep the masks for the show and display them to all the world and then return them admitting we were wrong to have them-that would look hypocritical, or at best opportunistic.'

'Hear, hear,' said another curator.

'Thank you, Dr. Wong,' said Menzies as the woman sat back down.

And now Nora Kelly was standing up, sweeping cinnamon hair from her face, slender and tall. She looked around, poised and confident. Margo felt a swelling of irritation.

'There are two questions before us,' she began, her voice low and reasonable. 'The first is whether Margo has the right to publish the editorial. I think we all agree that the editorial independence of Museology must be preserved, even if some of us don't like the opinions expressed.'

There was a general murmuring of agreement, except from Ashton, who crossed his arms and snorted audibly.

'And I am one of those who does not agree with this editorial.'

Here it comes, thought Margo.

'It's more than a question of mere ownership. I mean, who owns Michelangelo's David? If the Italians wanted to break it up to make marble bathroom tiles, would that be acceptable? If the Egyptians decided to level the Great Pyramid for a parking lot, would that be okay? Do they own it? If the Greeks wanted to sell the Parthenon to a Las Vegas casino, would that be their right?'

She paused.

'The answer to these questions must be no. These things are owned by all of humanity. They are the highest expressions of the human spirit, and their value transcends all questions of ownership. So it is with the Great Kiva masks. Yes, the museum acquired them unethically. But they are so extraordinary, so important, and so magnificent that they cannot be returned to the Tano to disappear forever into a dark kiva. So I say: publish the editorial. Let's have the debate. But for God's sake, don't give back the masks.' She paused again, thanked them for listening, and sat down.

Margo felt a redness creeping into her face. As much as she hated to admit it, Nora Kelly was formidable.

Menzies looked around, but it appeared that no one had any more comments. He turned to Margo. 'Anything further to add? Now is the time to speak.'

She sprang to her feet. 'Yes. I'd like to rebut Dr. Kelly.'

'Please.'

'Dr. Kelly has conveniently overlooked one critical point: the masks are religious objects, unlike everything else she cited.'

Nora was immediately on her feet. 'The Parthenon isn't a temple? The David isn't a figure from the Bible? The Great Pyramid isn't a sacred tomb?'

'For heaven's sakes, they're not religious objects now. No one goes to the Parthenon to sacrifice rams anymore!'

'Exactly my point. Those objects have transcended their original limited religious function. Now they belong to all of us, regardless of religion. Just so with the Great Kiva masks. The Tano may have created them for religious purposes, but now they belong to the world.'

Margo felt the flush spread through her body. 'Dr. Kelly, may I suggest that your logic is better suited to an undergraduate classroom in philosophy than a meeting of anthropologists in the greatest natural history museum in the world?'

A silence followed. Menzies slowly turned toward Margo, fixed her with his blue eyes, over which his eyebrows were drawn down in displeasure. 'Dr. Green, passion in science is a marvelous quality. But we must insist upon civility as well.'

Margo swallowed. 'Yes, Dr. Menzies.' Her face flamed. How had she allowed herself to lose her temper? She didn't even dare glance over at Nora Kelly. Here she was, not only creating controversy but making enemies in her own department.

There was a general nervous clearing of throats, a few whispers.

'Very well,' Menzies said, his voice back to its soothing note. 'I've gotten the drift of opinion from both sides, and it appears we are more or less evenly divided. At least among those with opinions. I have made my decision.'

He paused, casting his eye around the group.

'I will be bringing two recommendations to the director. The first is that the editorial be published. Margo is to be commended for initiating the debate with a well-reasoned editorial, which upholds the best traditions of Museology journal.'

He took a breath. 'My second recommendation is that the masks be returned to the Tano. Forthwith.'

There was a stunned silence. Margo could hardly believe it- Menzies had come down one hundred percent on her side. She had won. She sneaked a glance at Nora, saw the woman's face now reddening as well.

'The ethics of our profession are clear,' Menzies went on. 'Those ethics state, and I quote: 'The first