Chapter 14

Aphrodite tugged at her arm. "What is she saying?" she whispered. "I can't get this thing to work."

"She wants us to go away and leave her alone."

Aphrodite's face crumpled in disappointment. "Tell her I really would like to communicate with her. Tell her "

Pandora swung her gaze back to Athena, who felt a wave of weakness sweep over her.

"My friend," she began, but she got no further.

The dog that had been whining in the corner let out a howl of real pain and Artemis dashed towards it. "What's the matter with that dog?"

Pandora watched her with astonishment as she pulled the sack from her shoulders and bent to examine the dog. "Come here, Athena, I need your help." Athena glanced at Pandora, who gave a curt nod of her head, then hurried over to see what she could do.

"Hold this." Artemis passed her a tube. "No, hold it higher. Keep your hand above your head." Artemis attached a bottle of something half way up the tube and a needle to the other end. This she inserted under the dog's skin near the neck. Athena winced and looked away. She caught first the eye of Pandora, who looked baffled but not angry, and then that of Aphrodite, who was still fiddling with the attachment on her helmet. "Bloody thing," she muttered.

"Here baby, here baby," Artemis crooned to the dog: "It will be all right in a minute. I'll help."

"What is it?" Athena whispered. "What's wrong with it?"

"She's whelping but the labour has stopped," said Artemis, without looking away from the dog. "If we don't stimulate her the pups will die and she will die later of septicaemia. I'm administering a hormone to restart the process."

None of this made the slightest sense to Athena. She understood the primitives better than she understood Artemis when she did this medical-speak. She looked helplessly at Aphrodite.

"The dog is giving birth to puppies," she said.

Oh God! More blood and horror!

But the process was surprisingly bloodless. After a few minutes the first little bundle shot out. It was enveloped in a bag, which the mother immediately ripped away. For a moment Athena thought she was eating the puppy, but she just ate the bag and then began to lick the baby, which seemed to take shape under her ministrations.

"She's licking it into shape," Prometheus said. "Soon it will look like a proper dog."

And indeed, it did look as if that was exactly what was happening. But the mother didn't have long to deal with her first-born. Another was making its way into the world and the whole process was repeated.

Athena looked away, sickened. The whole thing seemed so messy and, well, squalid. Aphrodite watched, clearly fascinated. Everybody else looked bored.

"Perhaps," said Pandora, "you would like to share a cup of friendship?"

Athena looked up, startled. The real Pandora was back, the young girl who had been so frightened yesterday. It seemed the Goddess had departed. Perhaps something about the incident with the dog had reassured her that they meant no harm.

Later, the dog settled comfortably on a hide, the tiny blind pups suckling, and Athena released from her temporary servitude, the three girls were seated with Pandora on a ledge. Prometheus handed each of them a clay cup and poured a brownish liquid into each one. Athena sniffed hers suspiciously, then realised she was being impolite, and took a small sip. It had a harsh, bitter taste and it was all she could do not to spit it out, but Artemis and Aphrodite drank theirs with evident enjoyment.

"Ask her how they make it," Aphrodite said, after her third cupful. "It will go down well with the troops."

Artemis giggled slightly. "I pronounce international relationships well and truly established." She held out her cup for another refill. "You must come to ours. Try the wine." She hiccupped.

Pandora, clearly not understanding a word, smiled and raised her cup in a gesture of friendship. Athena fretted, wondering whether her father was beginning to get impatient. She caught Prometheus' eye and he grinned at her. Was she the only responsible person present?

Pandora leant towards Aphrodite, her hand outstretched to touch her dress, but drew back suddenly when her fingers encountered an invisible barrier.

"Oh, sorry. Wearing a suit." Aphrodite switched her suit off and reached to take Pandora's hand and place it on the fabric. Pandora's eyes widened in wonder. "It is beautiful," she crooned. "And so soft! What is it made of?"

Athena wondered whether she should translate and then realised she couldn't even begin to explain how the fabric was made, so she left it at that. They seemed to be getting on all right without speech anyway.

Artemis let out a loud belch. "Sorry," she said, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

It was almost dark by the time they finally left the cave. Despite the difficulty of communication, the party had ended in an atmosphere of almost maudlin bonhomie, with promises to visit each other the following day.

God knows what my father will say, Athena thought, as the other two staggered back to the pod.

"I think it might be better if I drive."

Prometheus and Pandora waved them off. They had their arms around each other's waists and were swaying slightly.

~*~

"So, let me just get this clear," Zeus said, his voice low and menacing, as he looked from one to another of the three girls. "You told me you were going on a mission to observe the primitives observe, you notice - and you not only actually landed and communicated with them but you had a party. Am I right so far?"

Athena and Artemis hung their heads and nodded miserably, but Aphrodite defiantly looked him right in the eye.

"And then," Zeus raised his eyes heavenwards, "and then you got pissed as rats and invited them to come and visit us?"

Athena made a feeble move to object. She, after all, had not got drunk. But her father overrode her. "Athena can perhaps be excused to some extent, but you!" He raised his finger and pointed at Aphrodite. "Your behaviour was totally irresponsible. You know the rules. No interference with indigenous species. No contact without my permission. These very people were throwing rocks at us yesterday. Are you out of your mind?"

"No, Daddy," Athena stood up suddenly. "It wasn't them. These people are friendly. The ones who threw the rocks have gone."

Zeus didn't even look at her. "Shut up, Athena," he said dismissively keeping his eyes on Aphrodite. "I will not have a member of my crew flouting my authority in this manner."

"Daddy!" Athena grabbed his sleeve. "It wasn't like that. It's not Aphrodite's fault. It was me." The sentence ended with a suppressed sob. "It was my fault."