"That's got nothing to do with it."

"Well, whatever you've got in mind, I'm not at all in the mood for it. In fact, you're acting very badly. So goodnight and please don't come scaring me anymore." She started to move away, but Aries caught her arm.

"Not so fast. We haven't even started yet. Let's go over yonder, in that grass, where it will be easier on your pretty little backside."

Wayness pulled back.

"Aries, are you crazy? You can't do this and not be punished!"

"It's all in knowing how," said Aries.

"You might like it so much that you'll come out every night looking for more."

Wayness said nothing. Aries reached out and twitched away the robe.

"I was right. You have a beautiful figure." He chuckled.

"What there is of it." He touched her breasts.

"I

like them somewhat bigger, but these do you very nicely.

Come along, over here, and don't think

to yell, because I know how to stop that kind of foolishness. Shall I show you?"

"No."

Aries nevertheless gave a great flourish of the hands, then thrust his thumbs into a pair of sensitive places under the turn of her jaw. Wayness jerked back and for a moment broke loose. She turned to run, but Aries was on her, and bore her to the ground.

"Now lie there! And don't move!" He spread out the robe and rolled her over upon the fabric.

"Now:

isn't that nice? What do you think of all this?"

"Please let me go home!"

"That's the wrong thing to say!" Aries' voice was half jesting, half ugly.

"Girls like you need attention; that's why you go running around naked looking for it." He reached down and began fondling her body. Wayness stared up at the sky, wondering how Aries dared do this to her. Unless

Her mind refused to put the idea into words.

Aries threw aside his cloak, dropped his trousers and lowered himself. From the shadows a dark figure stepped forward. There was motion, a swishing sound, a sodden thud, and Aries fell forward senseless.

Glawen reached down and pulled Wayness to her feet.

"You're safe now. It's Glawen."

"Oh Glawen...." She pressed against him and started to cry, while he tried to comfort her.

"Wayness, poor Wayness!

You're safe, safe, safe. Don't cry."

"I can't help it. I think he intended to kill me."

"That's certainly how it might have ended up." Glawen reached for her robe.

"Put this on, then go for your father. Can you do that?"

"I'd rather that you came with me."

Glawen looked down at the twitching hulk. A knife hung at Aries' belt, with which Glawen cut strips from Aries' cloak and tied his ankles and wrists.

"There! That will keep him quiet for a few minutes, at least." He looked at Wayness.

"Are you feeling well?"

"Well enough."

"Come along, then." Glawen took her hand and they went up the path to Riverview House.

Five minutes later Egon Tamm and Milo returned down the path with a hand lamp to find Aries struggling against the bonds.

At the approach of the two men Aries desisted in his efforts and lay blinking up into the light.

"I say, who are you?" he growled.

"Turn that damned light out of my eyes and cut these cords. It's an absolute outrage! I've been attacked and injured."

"What a shame," said Milo.

"Turn him loose," said Egon Tamm grimly, and held the light while Milo cut the cords.

Aries rose shakily to his feet.

"This is a very bad situation; when I came to help Way ness, someone attacked me. I suggest that we run out to look along the beach."

"I want to look in your pouch. Hand it over."

Aries began to expostulate.

"Now, just a moment! By what right--" Egon Tamm twitched the light toward Milo.

"Take his pouch."