I knelt down to use the pavement for a desk. I forget what I wrote: something about how Boggin sent us, we were not from Mavors or Mulciber, but we have urgent business to discuss. I was kind of coy about saying too much, but I wanted to drop names so he'd know we were not humeys.
Wolves, not cattle.
Then the huge guy politely escorted us to the curb, smiled, ignored whatever else we said, and stomped back to the club, his ring mail glittering and chiming at every footstep.
Vanity, staring at the broad back retreating said, "Why was he carrying a harpoon?"
Quentin said, "Because that was-"
Without warning, Vanity jumped into Quentin's arms and landed a big, wet, sloppy kiss on his lips.
After a moment or two, Colin said, "Are you guys going to come up for air?"
I slapped myself on the neck. "Damn these mosquitoes." Then I said, "Let's go to this tux shop, whatever it is." And I began marching down the sidewalk. Vanity and Quentin broke their hold and followed.
After a short bit, we turned a corner, and Vanity said softly, "All clear."
Colin said to Vanity, "Red, if I am about to say something stupid, would you kiss me, too?"
Quentin said, "Down, hormone boy, down!"
Vanity smiled sweetly. "Each time you are about to say something stupid? Well, I'd have no time for anything else!"
I looked at Vanity, "If we are now in the clear... ?" She nodded.
To the group: "First, in the future, let the Leader do the talking. That was just disgraceful!
Everyone jaw-jawing at once. If I had been the bouncer, I would have had us all arrested." I drew a deep breath and gave them all the basilisk eye. No one decided to talk back to me, not then.
To Quentin: "And what were you about to say, Quentin?"
"Deimos. That was Deimos, son of Mavors. Terror is his other name. Miles is just a word for
'soldier.' He stops fights because he is the god who causes one side to panic and rout, so that spearmen can cut them down from behind as they flee." Quentin breathed a sigh and wiped his brow. "He is not Mr. Nice Guy. Really. Not. Did none of you recognize him?"
Vanity said, "Why a harpoon?"
Quentin said, "Not sure. Maybe as a symbol? Terror, once it strikes, leaves its hook in your heart, and slowly pulls you in. Even the hugest creatures on earth cannot escape."
Victor said, "What now, Leader? I suggest we break into the club and wait for Mr. Archer to return-assuming he is actually gone."
I said, "Why would Mavors' son help us against his father?"
Quentin said, "Greek gods don't love their dads. Saturn castrated his father and ate his son, or tried to, and he, in turn, threw him into Tartarus." Quentin shivered again. "I have no love for the White Christ, but at least the God of Jerusalem was adored by his son."
Victor said sardonically, "Who adored the son enough in return to have him tortured to death for crimes he did not commit."
I said, "We are shelving the theology discussion. Advice on a course of action? We have one vote for break in and surprise him."
Colin licked his lower lip and said in a thoughtful tone, "That big guy? I think I can take him.
Let's break in."
I had sudden insight into male psychology. My theory: Guys are idiots. Keep this theory in mind. It explains the phenomena while assuming no unnecessary agents.
Vanity said in exasperation, "Beggars can't be break-in-ers! We're trying to get ourselves free from Mavors' curse. If we disobey his direct order, then it's a Quentin thing again, right? Like poor Mr. Finklestein looking at Phoebe bathing. So we are coming to this guy for help." She turned to Quentin. "Deimos is really Archer, right? There are not two gods running around in L.
A."
Quentin did not answer her, but said, "Leader, I cannot trespass, or break rules like that, or else my Art will endanger me."
I said, "If you were wearing a tux, could you break in? Think about the words Deimos said. He invited you back in, if you were dressed right. He did not say anything about going in through the front door."
Victor said, "So what's the plan?"
I said, "Let's go shopping! You know, I have not spent a single dime of my money yet, and I think I need a new dress."
"Upscale" he called it. The place was huge. Glittering aisles of goods were piled deep as the rooms of gold the Aztecs gathered to ransom Montezuma. Fabrics, jewelry, more shoes than an elfish cobbler's shop. Sporting goods for sale in the back of the store. (I made a mental note to buy myself a shooting iron. I was in America, after all.) Electronics. Televisions. Musical instruments.
Everything.
The store was strangely deserted-or, not so strange, considering the late hour-but the manager came hurrying down the empty aisles when the five of us entered the front door.
He smiled and inclined his head when we showed him the card Deimos had given us. "Gentlemen's apparel is on the second floor..." He gestured toward the grand-ballroom-style staircase leading up to a sort of elevated courtyard surrounded by several departments or shops on the right.
"Women's evening wear, yes? On the left..." A twin of the first staircase led up to an area the size of a small town, but one where an impatient sorcerer turned every inhabitant into a dressmaker.
There was no balcony or bridge between the two departments: To cross from one to the other required descending one grand staircase, crossing the wealth-crowded aisles of the main salon, and ascending another.
Victor said, "Leader, I am not sure we should split up."
Colin said, "He's right, I mean, you girls might need help tucking your mammary glands into brassieres or something."
Vanity took me by the elbow. "We don't want to miss Archer; besides, this is still within screaming distance. And how fast can Victor fly? Mach twenty-two or something?"
I said, "Just stay alert. Go get your tuxes." But for some reason, Vanity and I started giggling as we tripped up the stairway to the palace of luxury atop. Here were mannequins in poses of grace, and acres of soft fabric hanging from padded hangers.
Vanity whispered: "The money! It is still folded up in your fourth dimension."
But there was a clerk watching. The young lady walked across the shimmering marble floor toward us, the only other person in sight, and it was not the time to pull my energy-shining wings down into this plenum.