acrifice with beak and
talon. My poor superior here, still strong in his faith, called loudly
on our Lord the Sun to lend power to his arm, and sprang up on the altar
with naught but his teeth and his bare arms for weapons. It may be
that he expected a miracle--he has not spoke since, poor soul, in
explanation--but all he met were blows from leathery wings, and rakings
from talons which went near to disembowelling him. The bird brushed him
away as easily as we could sweep aside a fly, and there he lay bleeding
on the pavement beside the altar, whilst the sacrifice was torn and
eaten in the presence of all the people. And then, when the bird was
glutted, it flew away again to the mountains."

"And the people gave no help?"

"They cried out that the thing was a portent, that our Lord the Sun
was a God no longer if He had not power or thought to guard His own
sacrifice; and some cried that there was no God remaining now, and
others would have it that there was a new God come to weigh on the
country, which had chosen to take the form of a common man-eating bird.
But a few began to shout that Phorenice stood for all the Gods now in
Atlantis, and that cry was taken up till the stones of the great
circle rang with it. Some may have made proclamations because they were
convinced; many because the cry was new, and pleased them; but I am sure
there were not a few who joined in because it was dangerous to leave
such an outburst unwelcomed. The Empress can be hard enough to those who
neglect to give her adulation."

"The Empress is Empress," I said formally, "and her name carries
respect. It is not for us to question her doings."

"I am a priest," said Ro, "and I speak as I have been taught, and defend
the Faith as I have been commanded. Whether there is a Faith any longer,
I am beginning to doubt. But, anyway, it yields a poor enough livelihood
nowadays. There have been no offerings at this temple this five months
past, and if I had not a few jars of corn put by, I might have starved
for anything the pious of this city cared. And I do not think that the
affair of that sacrifice is likely to put new enthusiasm into our cold
votaries."

"When did it happen?"

"Twenty hours ago. To-day Phorenice conducts the sacrifice herself.
That has caused the stir you spoke about. The city is in the throes of
getting ready one of her pageants."

"Then I must ask you to open the temple doors and give me passage. I
must go and see this thi