Athena! Athena! Nyctimene was screeching in her ear. Before she could ask what the matter was, she knew. The Mother was standing before her ? but a strangely attenuated Mother. She seemed to be fading in and out ? going from solid to transparent ? the sound of her voice fading to nothing and then returning. Athena could make nothing of it.

" Queen dying Prometheus fire magic too strong save " and, at last, "Come! come nooo "

And then she was gone. Like a ...