With even greater caution, Glawen started forward once again, keeping to the shadows whenever possible, proceeding just fast enough to keep pace with the dark shape ahead.
There was something odd about its contours; was it definitely Aries? Glawen could not be sure, but dared draw no closer, though the figure, moving at a lumbering half trot, seemed oblivious to the possibility of anyone coming behind.
The road approached the grove of trees surrounding Riverview House, with starlight glinting on the river lagoon beyond . Another hundred yards and the dark figure stopped short and seemed to appraise the landscape. Glawen dropped into a patch of deep shadow. Riverview House, on a knob of land extending into the lagoon, could now be placed by a glimmer of lights from its windows.
Glawen, skulking through the shade, moved closer to the dark figure. Suddenly, as if perturbed by a psychic impulse, it turned and looked back the way it had come. The movement caused its outlines to billow; with a flush of something like horror, Glawen saw that it wore a long loose cloak and some sort of loose mask to conceal its features. Glawen was now close enough to identify the shape; it was a secret and horrid version of Aries, hitherto unknown--at least to Glawen. Again he regretted the lack of a weapon. Groping along the ground, Glawen found the dead frond of a parasol tree. Carefully he stripped away the fiber spokes, to produce a flexible pole with a bulb
of heavy dank sponge at one end. He backed into the shadows, and| with great caution broke off the tip, to produce a serviceable cudgel| three feet long. | Glawen crept toward again. Out over the sea Lorca and Sing had| appeared, to cast a pallid pink light over the scene.
But now, where was Aries? He was nowhere to be seen.
Glawen jumped to his feet and stared south down the beach.
Aries could not have gone far. The beach stretched away blank and empty. Where, then, was Aries?
Glawen moved slowly forward. Aries might have ventured down the path toward River view House. Or he might have gone down to the shore of the lagoon, where he could watch and wait unseen in the deep shade under the weeping willows.
Glawen listened. From the direction of the lagoon came the plash of nocturnal water animals: otter lings or water cats timorous creatures who would dive deep and hide at any alarm. If Aries had come this way, he had used great stealth indeed.
The sounds halted which might mean much or nothing.
Glawen ran crouching up the path to the shore of the lagoon.
To his left he saw a boathouse, a dock and ripples glinting pink and white where someone was swimming and disturbing the surface of the water. All was now explained: here was the source of the splashing sounds, and unquestionably Aries was near at hand.
Step by slow step Glawen moved around the shore, wincing at every shift of position for fear of snapping a twig or otherwise alerting Aries to his presence.
His caution was perhaps exaggerated. Absorbed in the view, Aries lacked interest in extraneous details, and in any event what could concern him? He felt majestic in his power.
All contingencies had been dealt with; there was nothing to fear. If anyone should ask, the footman would attest that he had never left Clattuc House, and who would or could contradict him? Disguised in mask and cloak, Aries had marched through the night like a god incognito: a creature offeree and mystery, the stuff of legends. He also carried clever devices to be used as needed, even though tonight he had come out with no fixed plan "on the prowl," so he told himself. And tonight he had prow led to good effect. He leaned forward, avid and keen, absorbed in what could be seen of the nude body where it glimmered pale in the dark water.
The swimmer was Wayness. She floated now with only her face and the top of her head exposed, arms outstretched, holding position by deft twitches of her hands. Moving her legs, she brought them to the surface and lay floating lazily on her back, gazing up at the stars. Aries began to breathe hard through clenched teeth.
Way ness kicked her feet, churning the water and propelling herself toward the dock, where she had left a robe, sandals and a towel. Along the shore moved Aries, watching her every movement. She was about to come from the water and most convenient to hand. Ha! Could there be any choice? A man exposed to this kind of stimulation could not be expected to restrain himself!
Wayness climbed a ladder to the dock and for a moment stood looking over the water and letting herself drip, while the light of Lorca and Sing invested her skin with a wonderful ruddy glow.
Wayness picked up the towel, rubbed her hair, dried her face, arms and torso, gave her back, haunches and legs a few desultory wipes, then threw the robe over her shoulders, thrust her feet in the sandals and stepped down from the dock.
A shape came up behind her and attempted to drop a loose bag over her head. Wayness gave a startled cry, threw up her arms and pulled away the bag, which fell to the ground.
Jerking around, Wayness saw a looming dark shape, anonymous behind dark cloak and black mask. Her knees loosened and gave way; she sagged back against the dock.
The dark shape came forward and spoke in a hoarse whisper.
"I'm sorry I startled you, but there was no other way."
Wayness tried to hold her voice firm.
"No other way for what?"
"Don't you know? Of course you do. It's what girls are made for."
Wayness' voice trembled despite her best efforts.
"Don't be absurd. It's Aries, isn't it? You're absolutely grotesque in that outfit."
"No matter who it is, or how I look!" The heavy whisper had become annoyed.
"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.
