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hance。 Don't try to fight with Woundhealer； though。 Not if your idea is to carve up someone instead of making him feel good。〃
But so far there had not been the remotest danger of a fight。 So far the journey's only physical excitement had been provided by occasional thunderstorms； threatening the traveler with lightning and drenching white robes that had not been waterproofed。
On Denis's fifth day out he passed through calm farm country； in lovely weather。 That night he again made camp on a small island。
And dreamed； as he often did； of women。 Kuan…yin； the governess he had embraced in real life； and thought of marrying； beckoned to him。 And tonight he dreamed also of the mistress of the House of Courtenay； who in real life had never touched him except to bind his wounded arm。 Denis dreamed that she who he had known as the Lady Sophie had e to visit him in his room beside the workshop。 She sat on his cot there and smiled； and held his hand； and thanked him for something he had done； or was perhaps about to do。 Her white robe was in disarray； hanging open； but incredibly she seemed not to notice。
The dream was just approaching its moment of greatest tension； when Denis awoke。 He lay in warm moonlight； with the sense that the world to which he had awakened was only a perfected dream。 There was a scent in the air … of riverside flowers？ … incredibly sweet and beautiful； too subtle to be called perfume。
And there was in the air also something else。 A fearless excitement。 Denis's blood throbbed with oneiric anticipation； of he knew not what。 Yet he knew that he was wide awake。
He looked along the river； his gaze caught by the path of reflected moonlight。 He saw a shadow； as of some drifting boat； enter upon that path。 It was some kind of craft … a barge； he thought … speckled with its own small lights； and moving in perfect silence。 Almost perfect。 A moment more； and Denis could hear the gentle splash and drip of oars。
As the barge drew closer； he could see that it was larger than he had thought at first； so large that he wondered how it managed to navigate the narrower places in this small river。 The lights along its low sides were softly glowing amber lamps； as steady as the Old World light that Denis was familiar with； but vastly subtler。
Denis was on his feet now。 He still had no doubts that he was awake； and he was conscious of being more or less his ordinary self。 Whatever was happening to him now was real； but he had no sense of danger； only of thrilling promise。 He moved a step closer to the bank； the water murmuring like lovers' laughter at his feet。 He stood there leaning on the upended bottom of the canoe that he had prudently pulled out of the river before retiring。
As the barge drew closer still； Denis could see that it bore amidships a small house or pavilion； covered by an awning of some fine cloth。 Just forward of this there was a throne…like chair or lounge； all centered between two rows of strangely silent and briefly costumed young women rowers。
A woman was reclining upon the lounge； in the middle of a mass of pillows。 With only the Moon behind her； and the dim lamps on her boat； Denis could see her at first only by hints and outlines。 At first his heated imagination assured him that she was wearing nothing at all。 But presently his eyes were forced to admit the fact of a garment； more shimmering mist and starlight； it seemed； than any kind of cloth。 Most of the woman's body was enclosed by this veil； though scarcely any of it was concealed。
Denis's heart lurched within him； and he understood。 A name sprang into his mind； and he might have spoken it aloud； but just at that moment he lacked the breath to say anything at all。 He had never seen a god or goddess in his life before； and had never really expected to see one before he died。
In response to some mand unseen and unheard by Denis； the inhumanly silent rowers stopped； in unison。 He was vaguely aware； even without looking directly at them for a moment； of how ely they all were； and how provocatively dressed。 With the Goddess of Love herself before his eyes； he could not have looked at any of them if he had tried。
The barge； under a control that had to be more than natural； came drifting very slowly and precisely toward Denis on the island。 From inside the cabin … he thought … there came a strain of music； lovely as the perfume； to waft across the small width of water that remained。 Every note was framed in perfect silence now that the silvery trickle from the oars had stopped。
With an undulating movement Aphrodite rose from her couch； to stand in a pose of unstrained grace。
〃Young man？〃 she called to Denis softly。 The voice of the goddess was everything that her appearance had suggested it might be。 〃I must speak with you。〃
Denis started toward her and stumbled。 He discovered that it was necessary to make his way around some large and unfamiliar object … oh yes； it was his canoe … that somehow happened to be right in his path。
〃Lady；〃 he choked out； 〃I am yours to mand。 What would you have of me？〃 At this point he became aware that he had just fallen on his knees with a loud squelching sound； right in the riverside mud。 This would not have mattered in the least； except that it might tend to make the goddess think that he was clumsy； and when he got up； she was sure to see how muddy his white robes had got； and he feared that she might laugh。
So far； thank all the gods and goddesses； she was not laughing at him。
〃Young man；〃 said Aphrodite； 〃I know that you are carrying two Swords with you。 I understand that one of them is the one that heals。 And the other。。。 well； I forget at the moment what they told me about the other。 But that doesn't matter just now。 I want you to hand both of them over to me at once。 If you are quick enough about it I will perhaps allow you to kiss me。〃 The goddess paused for just a moment； and gave Denis a tiny smile。 〃Who knows what I might allow； on such a romantic night as this？〃
〃Kiss me；〃 Denis echoed vacantly。 Then； giving a mad bound； he was up out of the mud and on his feet； stumbling and splashing about。 He had to find the two Swords she was talking about … where were they； anyway？ … and give them to her。 What else was he going to do with them； anyway？ They were in the canoe。。。 where was the canoe？
He tripped over it and almost tumbled himself back into the mud before he really saw it。 Then he broke a fingernail getting the craft turned rightside up。
Aphrodite encouraged him in a friendly way。 〃That's it。 They're hidden right in the bottom of your little boat or whatever it is there … but then I suppose you know that。〃 The goddess sounded mildly impatient with his clumsiness … how could she not be？ But she did not yet sound angry； Denis silently offered thanks。
He thought he was going to lose another finger…nail getting the trick board pried up。 Then he realized that he would do a lot better prying with a knife instead。
Aphrodite slowly approached the near side rail of her luxurious barge。 Gracefully she knelt there upon a small mound of silken cushions； between two of her inhumanly beautiful rowers。 They paid her no attention。
〃Be quick； young man！ I need what you are going to give me。〃 The goddess beckoned with one hand； and her voice； melded with her laughter； stretched out in silken double meaning。 Her laughter； Denis desperately assured himself； was not really meant to be unkind。 Yet still it somehow wounded him。
He pried with his knife； and the small nails holding the board came squeaking out。 The hidden partment lay open； its contents exposed to moonlight。
Aphrodite； to get a better look； gave a pert little kneeling jump； a movement of impossible grace that made the softer portions of her body bounce。 What color was her hair？ Denis asked himself desperately。 And what about her skin？ In the moonlight he could not tell； and anyway it did not matter in the least。 And was she really tall or short； voluptuous or thin？ From moment to moment all those things seemed to change； with only the essence of her sex remaining constant。
Now she was standing at the rail of her craft。 The barge continued to drift minutely in toward shore； ignoring the current even though the oars were raised and idle。
〃Be quick； young man； be quick。〃 There was a hint of impatience in her voice。
Denis； groping almost sightlessly for his treasure to hand it over； felt his hand fall first upon Woundhealer。 Somehow he could identify the Sword from its first touch。 Humbly he brought it out； sheathed as it was； and with a kind of genuflection handed it over； hilt…first； to the goddess。 She accepted it； with a sprightly one…handed gesture that showed how strong her smooth young…looking arm could be。
She held the Sword of Mercy sheathed； and said： 〃The other one now。 And then I believe that perhaps you will have earned a kiss。〃
He fumbled in the bottom of the canoe again； and brought out Doomgiver。
This Sword he held with one hand supporting its sheathed blade； and the other holding the hilt； and through the hilt he felt a flow of strange and unfamiliar power。 It gave him a sense of steady certitude。 The sheath seemed to fall free of itself； the Sword was drawn。
Denis straightened up； intending to present this Sword as well to the goddess。 But when his eyes fell on her he was shocked to see that she was changed。
Or was the change in him … and not in her？
Aphrodite let fall her arm that had been extended to receive the second Sword。 She stepped back； her other hand still holding the sheathed Sword of Mercy。
Again Denis pondered： What does she really look like？ But still the moonlight （he thought it was the moonlight） made it quite impossible to tell。
Certainly more lovely than any mortal woman could ever be。 Yet now； since he had drawn the second Sword； he thought she was in some way inferior to even the least of human mortals。 In some way she was … unreal。
He realized that he did not want her now。
Power was still flowing from the Sword…hilt into his hand。 In sudden curiosity he looked at what his fingers gripped。 He saw in moonlight； without understanding； the simple hollow white circle that marked the black。
Wonder of wonders； the goddess appeared to be fighting some inner struggle with herself。
〃Give me。。。〃she began to say； in a voice that still fought to be manding。 But after those first two words her voice faltered and her speech broke off。
She sagged back from the railing of her barge （Denis was shocked to see how graceless the movement was）； and stopped half…kneeling on her silken pillows once more。 The cloud of her moonlit hair concealed her face。
〃No；〃 she contradicted herself； speaking now in yet another voice； much softer。 〃No； do not give it to me now。 I am a goddess； and I could take it from you。 But I will not。〃
Denis's arm that held the Sword of Justice faltered； and the blade sank down slowly at his side。 It hung in his hand like a dead weight； though still its power flowed。 He felt an overwhelming pity for the goddess； mixed with a slight disgust。
〃Do not give it to me；〃 repeated Aphrodite； in her soft and newly thoughtful voice。 〃That would cause harm to you。〃 After a pause she went on； marveling to herself。 〃So； this is love。 I have always wondered； and never known what it was like。 I see it can be terrible。〃
She raised her head until her wide…spaced eyes were visible under the cloud of moonlit hair。 〃I see。。。 that your name is Denis； my beloved。 And you have known a score of women before now； and dreamed of a thousand more。 Yet you have never really known any of them。 Nor will you； can you； ever really know a goddess； I suppose。〃 And Aphrodite gave a sigh； her bosom heaving。
Denis could only stand there unfortably。 He felt more pity for this lovely woman than he could bear； and he wished that she would go away。 At the same time he wanted to let go of the Sword in his right hand； he wanted to throw it in the river。 It seemed to him that his life had been much more intense and glorious just a few moments ago； before he had drawn Doomgiver。 But the Sword would not let him throw it away just now； any more than it would allow the goddess to take it from him。
〃I love you； Denis；〃 the goddess Aphrodite said。
He made an incoheren