"Hail,"Menedemos said. "Is that the noise a leopard makes?"

"Or has someEgyptian wizard summoned up a kakodaimon from the depths of Tartaros?"Sostratos added.

Himilkon shook his headfrom side to side, as Phoenicians did when they meant no. "Neither, mymasters," he answered in gutturally accented Greek. Gold gleamed fromhoops that pierced his ears. He plucked at his curled black beard, much longerand thicker than Sostratos', to show distress. "That accursed fowl ispretty, but it will drive me mad."

"Fowl?"Menedemos raised an eyebrow at yet another screech. "What kind of fowl? Apigeon with a brazen throat?"

"A fowl,"Himilkon repeated. "I do not recall the name in Greek." He shoutedback into the warehouse: "Hyssaldomos! Bring out the cage, to show themiserable creature to these fine gentlemen."

"He wants you tobuy it, whatever it is," Sostratos whispered to Menedemos. The captain ofthe Aphrodite dipped his head in impatient agreement.

Hyssaldomos' voice camefrom within: "Be right there, boss." Grunting under the weight, theKarian slave carried out a large, heavy wooden cage and set it down on the groundby Himilkon. "Here you go."

Menedemos and Sostratoscrouched to peer through the slats of the cage. A very large bird with shinyblue feathers and a curious crest or topknot stared back at them with beadyblack eyes. It opened its pale beak and gave forth with another screech, allthe more appalling for coming from closer range.

Rubbing his ear,Menedemos looked up at Himilkon. "Whatever it is, I've never seen onebefore."

Hyssaldomos supplied theGreek word: "It's a peacock."

"That's right, apeacock," Himilkon said with pride that would have been greater if hehadn't had to talk around a screech.

"A peacock!"Menedemos and Sostratos exclaimed, in excitement and disbelief. Menedemoswagged a finger at the creature and quoted Aristophanes, his favoriteplaywright: " 'Which are you, bird or peacock?' "