Blade stopped crying and smiled up at them. His gums hurt him and for the first time he realized that he was toothless. He smiled on, sweetly, and felt an intense dislike for the woman called Stel.

As his fate hung in the balance he stared at their feet. Four bare feet with red-painted toenails and jeweled rings on each great toe. These were harem women and babies were forbidden them. It was going to be a near thing-already he was feeling the pangs of hunger in his small belly. How long did it take a baby to starve to death?

Valli had not spoken. The woman Stel said, «Come on now, before we get into trouble. If the Izmir finds you with a child he'll have your head off just like that. You know the law, Valli. And this little monster isn't worth breaking it.»

When the woman Valli spoke, it was as if to herself. Blade, listening intently to every word, did not and could not at that time understand all of circumstance and nuance, but he understood enough to take heart. This woman Valli was going to be his salvation.

«They made me kill my baby,» said Valli. «You know that. Stel. I obeyed the law and let that filthy old priest thrust into me with his knife and cut the living child from my body. I did that, I obeyed, when all the time I wanted to seize the knife and slay the priest.»

Stel whispered in horror. «Be careful, Valli. That is treason. That is death-you must not dare to talk so. I think you have gone mad-losing your child has turned your mind. Come away now. I beg you. Is this big-headed monster-child worth your life?»

«I will not leave it to die,» said Valli. «I cannot. I think that the gods, those gods of which the priests know nothing, have sent me this child to replace the one I lost. If I abandon this one I will be twice damned. Go, Stel, if you are afraid. I am going to keep this child. I will hide it and somehow try to keep it alive. So go now and you have seen nothing and know nothing.»