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than that of Zeus. "Had it been his own mortal child Perseus, he would have forgiven him. But for my son Calibos he has neither mercy nor hope."
    "Be careful, my dear." Hera looked at her hard. "You cannot go against his will. That is the law. There is no connection between the life of Perseus and that of your offspring."
    "Is there not?" Thetis became thoughtful. "Examples have a way of affecting decisions. Perhaps . . . oh, don't look so alarmed, good Hera. I would not dare to oppose the will of Father Zeus. I know I cannot help Calibos. But I have not been forbidden certain other actions."
    "What 'other actions'? No, don't tell me. As you say, you cannot help Calibos. So there will be no marriage then to the Princess Andromeda for your son?"
    "How can there be . . . now? Yet, if my son is not to have her, then no man will! There has been no talk of the woman in this, only of Perseus and Calibos.
    "My priests in Joppa are loyal and responsive to their goddess. I will speak to them in dreams and omens. As my Calibos suffers, so will this Andromeda. I promise you."
    "You should not kill her."
    "Kill? Who speaks of killing? Not Father Zeus, and not I. I will not touch her. But it may be that, given time, even Calibos as he now appears will seem a better and better match to her. Zeus has said he would not oppose an 'honest' marriage between them. Perhaps events can be managed to induce such a seemingly unlikely joining to take place."
    Hera smiled approvingly at the sea goddess. "I can see that my husband is not the only master of deviousness on high Olympus."
    Thetis was not looking at her. "The law must not be broken," she was muttering, "but it can be avoided."
    The catch had been good. Perseus felt the strain in his shoulders and biceps as he fought his way back to the beach. Dripping, he stood on the sand and glanced around for a second to orient himself. The glow of the driftwood fire was off to his right. He thought he'd emerged directly in front of it, but the ways of the currents could be capricious. He smiled to himself at his mistake and jogged toward the friendly light.
    The night was warm, but the fire still felt good after the refreshing swim. Mossolion would distribute the surplus catch to those villagers who needed food. It was a task Perseus did not mind passing on to another. After all, it hardly mattered who received praise for distributing the fish as long as the fish went to those who needed it.
    The moisture warmed away, he lay down on the sand next to the fire and studied the stars through the olive branches overhead. There was great Orion preparing to battle Taurus. There was the scorpion, and far away the others who'd been chosen to serve Zeus as beacons in the heavens. They were pleasant companions to have on a comfortable night.
    He sighed, stretching luxuriously on the sand, and closed his eyes .
    Thetis stared down at the perfect, limber shape of the young mortal and thought angrily of the punishment Zeus had inflicted on her own son. There was little she could do. But Zeus had said that Perseus's future was now in the hands of chance. Why should she not give chance a helping hand?
    She refocused her gaze. The sanctuary was deserted, the amphitheater of life empty and glistening in the Olympian night. Moving furtively, she edged close to the structure. Her powers were but a pale fraction of Zeus's, but there was the amphitheater. Could it be different from another?
    She knew of another amphitheater, one fashioned by men and not gods. What is one amphitheater to another but a chance of location?
    She reached into the wall and chose the statuette of Perseus. She could not break it; that would truly bring the anger of Zeus down upon her. But she could place it somewhere else, unharmed.
    The figurine could neither respond nor hear her as she spoke to it. "The son of Zeus is to be left to the whims of chance while mine is punished with deformity and disgrace. It is time for chance to make itself