***
Spenser woke alone upon his cloak , naked , clothes strewn around him . The sea
was tranquil , the moon past the horizon . Spenser hurriedly dressed . The sand sloughed
off him as he walked along the promontory , as if anxious to return to the beach . A
gentle wind rearranged his hair until his locks were as neatly combed as by any
Piccadilly barber . There was a newfound ease to his movements as he walked the path
to Paleothea , an unaccustomed deftness to his stride .
The village was dark as before , but the gray false dawn already stole over the
eastern horizon . A tallow candle burned in Nikon ' s open window . Spenser went to the
door and softly knocked . Nikon opened the door and wrapped Spenser in a bear hug .
" Oh , McCrae . I was worried . You were gone a long time . And you ' re soaking wet .
Get out of those clothes and into bed ."
Spenser got a nightshirt from his saddlebags , undressed , and put it on . Despite
his protests , Nikon insisted Spenser take the bed while the old priest slept on the floor .
He draped a heavy quilt over Spenser .
" This should keep you warm . So , tell me , McCrae , if you ' re not too tired , what did
you see on the promontory ?"