purchase a boat and supplies. This is a free island. But to do that you will need money.'
'Money?'
'If you don't know what that is, you don't have any.'
Var let that pass. In time he would find out what money was, and whether he needed it. It sounded like some variation of barter, however.
They entered the hospital and returned to Var's room. 'You'll be moving out of here in a day or so,' the man said..
Var looked around. None of his or Soli's prior possessions were in evidence, except the bracelet he wore, and that was dull and scratched. He thought he knew why they hadn't taken that: they didn't know it was gold.
The bed was similar to some he had seen during his childhood in the badlands. It had high rods of metal projecting at either end, rather like the grates to certain ancient windows-or the bars in that temple room. Generally, these could be screwed loose....
'And a final word,' the man said. 'Don't go bothering them at the temple. They won't let you see your friend again.'
Var placed a hand on one of the rods and twisted. It was tight. 'Why not?'
'Because she is now a temple maiden, dedicated to our God Minos. These girls are kept in seclusion for the duration.'
Var tried another bar. This one turned. 'Why?'
'Regulations. When they approach nubility, there is too much danger of their losing their value to the God.'
The rod came free. Var held it aloft and advanced on the man, suppressing a tremor of weakness. 'What will happen to her?'
The man looked at him and at the improvised club, as though ignorant of the threat. 'Really, there is no need for that-'
'Tell me-or you die.' Var, driven by fear for Soli, was not bluffing. He was weak, but this man was obviously untrained for combat. One or two blows would suffice.
'Very well. She is to be sacrificed to Minos.'
Var wavered, suddenly feeling his weakness redoubled.
His worst fear had been brutally confirmed. 'Why-'
'You were dying. Medical attention is expensive. She agreed to enter the temple-it has to be voluntary, for we are civilized-if we made you well again. Because she will be lovely, and the God likes that, we acceded to the unusual commitment. Today we demonstrated that we kept our bargain, and now she will keep hers.'
'She will-die?'
'Yes.'
Var dropped the bedpost and sat down, befuddled and horrified. 'How-'
'She will be chained to the rock at the entrance to the labyrinth. Minos will come and devour her in his fashion. Then fortune will smile on New Crete for one more month, for our God will be satisfied.' -
One last thing Var had to know. 'When-'
'Oh, not for a couple of years yet. Your friend is still a child.' He glanced obscurely at Var. 'Otherwise I dare say she would not have proved eligible.'
Var did not follow the man's nuances and did not care to. The relief was as debilitating as the threat. Two years! There were a thousand things he could do to save her in that time.
'Remember, nomad-she made a bargain. Young as she is, she strikes us as a person of integrity. She will not break her vow, that saved your life, no matter what you may do.'
And that, Var realized with dismay, was
