Still Jim was aware of Antiope and the reason for his being here. Fair Antiope, he thought, now that he was back, should he find her and come and go invisibly unnoticed by her rivals. He would wed her in this time, and fulfill her dreams of his ability to grant her happinsess. To come and go as a Theseus, he would appear to be. He could not resist desiring to know where she was, and he could not help querying Genie.

"Genie, can you send up a surveillance probe and find Antiope and Helen?"

"I have them located Jim. Do you wish to visit them? We can launch a sentry from there to keep them protected."

"Very well. Where are they?"

"The Island of Lesbos. It is just a few leagues from the Hittite city of Iliam."

"Is that so? Perhaps we can visit, just for a quick survey. Invisibility mode, Idiot."

"Affirmative, Jim."

"Execute displacement."

Within a blink of the eye, Jim was next to Antiope's side, but she could not sense him. Indeed she had seemed to unite the Amazons under her leadership. He did not see Helen.

"We still have heard nothing from her majesty, Lady Antiope. It is as you have forewarned; Artemis has abandoned us to be ravaged by these primitive men.. Is there no hope for us? It has been seven moons since we have last heard from our Lady Isis."

"Qblh has promised to rescue us, Medusa. Fear not for your welfare."

"It is not you that has been blamed for the deaths of all these good men. There is an awful rumor going around that I am a hideous looking monster. Men seek to slay me, and have never seen me."

"I can't help that Medusa, Isis appointed you for that role, and that was before my time. Don't worry, Qblh will be here just in time as always."

"We woiuld feel much better, if we heard something from our true queen. It is not like her majesty to be silent for so long. We fear for the worst. Has something terrible happened, and you haven't told us?"

"Why nag me, Medusa? Why are you so defensive of her while she gives to you the most abominable tasks that she can imagine?"

"How will I ever advance myself, Antiope, if I acquire the habit of criticizing the traditions of Artemis. I still find it difficult to believe that she placed you in charge after your previous treacery. Consider yourself, very fortunate that Isis has forgiven you. or are you deceiving us?"

Antiope adjusted her protective shield somewhat so as to give Medusa a mild electric shock. "Regardless, Medusa, I have the power of the stone, and that is the true power of Artemis. Consider yourself fortunate that I did not strike you dead because of your insolence."

"Execute me, my lady Antiope, and you would be the first Amazon Queen to have ever executed her sister. Why make such idle threats?"

"Have it your way then, Medusa. You bank on Isis saving your miserable neck, and I'll bank on Qblh, and we'll see who is right."

Out of the shadows came Helen. "Also remember, I stand by Antiope and Qblh as well. If you wish to challenge Antiope's leadership, then you must champion me in combat. Any takers?"

No one spoke up. Antiope and Helen were champions of Artemis, royal bodyguards to the rulers the Venetian empire. In short they were more than a match for just about anyone. Yet neither had the power of the queen, but she was absent, and until her return, no one dared to challenge the duo. Antiope and Helen also had weapons which Jim had given them for additional protection.. The jewel which rested on Helen's bosom transmitted to her hand weapon all the power that it demanded. Genie in turn would sense the drain of power from Helen's stone, open a transmisssion channel and transfer through "subspace" all the energy needed to effect the requested task and recharge the potential banks of Helen's moonstone. Antiope's belt had a similar power source, but she had at her disposal more options. She had employed these options to obtain leadership of the stranded Amazons, and she had promised to get them all home to Artemis as well. It seemed that no other Amazon had boasted of that capability, and as a result no one could challenge her. The gifts, which Jim had provided, proved, beyond any doubt, that Antiope and Helen were definitely receiving support from Qblh, and this fact alone required all Amazons to acknowledge the court appointed Antiope as their leader. Helen, being Sophia's daughter, was a natural prime minister.

Jim wished to materialize to let Antiope and Helen know he was back, but Idiot could not accomplish the materialization; the paradox avoidance system prevented that. He would need to retuirn to the Dutchman. He noticed some young boys running around. Finding this to be unexpected, he presumed that Isis had successfully crossbreeded with the human animal. He would need to query Antiope considering such progress. Still he would be able to spy on this camp at his will, and left himself content with that fact. Both Antiope and Helen were showing signs of bearing child. Jim pondered this situation and speculated as to what should be done with these children, once they were born. It seemed to him that he must take them back to Artemis. He could not justify retrieving all the Venetians without retrieving his own children as well. Jim did not stay in the camp very long. He was able to overhear some choice gossip, but hearsay was not a good enough source of information on which to base his actions, but it did give him a general idea of what he must do.

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