“I’ve come to take you home,” he said.

He tossed me a bundle. Reflexively, my hands went out to catch it. It seemed to be a shirt and my sneakers, wrapped in a pair of jeans. One of the sneakers fell out as I caught it.

Keller laughed.

“Is that all you have to say?” he asked.

“What else is there to say? An emotional speech of thanks for saving the girl’s life? Consider it said. She has been here long enough. Go and change your clothes, Sandy. You look ridiculous in that-that thing.”

I let out my breath in a long sigh.

“You know,” I said, “I’ve missed our fights, Frederick. I can’t imagine how I’ve managed these past few days, living in peace and comfort with kind, civilized people who are trying to make me happy.”

Kore clapped her hands. “Very good,” she said, smiling broadly. “You know how to deal with him. He has not changed.”

Frederick looked her over. “You have,” he said brutally.

Kore’s face quivered, more in anger than in pain. Keller took a step forward. His face had lost its smile.

“That was unkind and unnecessary,” he said. “Sit down-Minos-and let us talk like adults.”

“Oh, very well,” Frederick said. “But if you want adult conversation, I suggest you avoid nicknames. They were childish in any case, and after all this time-”

“Over thirty years,” Keller interrupted. “Kore was right about you, Frederick; you are incredible. You don’t even ask me what I am doing here. Can it be that you know the answer?”

“Yes,” Frederick said. “There can only be one answer. As soon as I knew you were here, I knew why.”

“Then,” Keller said, “you have a question to ask me, I think. Ask it.”

He put his glass down on the table and straightened, his eyes fixed on Frederick. Arms at his sides, shoulders rigid, he looked like a man facing a firing squad.

“Yes,” Frederick said calmly. “I do have a question. What have you done about it?”

“About…it?” Keller’s mouth dropped open in a ludicrous expression of surprise. “You ask me what I have done? And that is all you-”

Kore sprang to her feet. She put her arms around Keller’s heaving shoulders. I couldn’t tell whether he was laughing or crying.

“He has done nothing,” she cried, glaring at Frederick. “Oh, you have not changed, you are the same cold, unfeeling-”

“For God’s sake!” It was my turn to leap up. We stood there like four people in a room without chairs. “I can’t stand this oblique conversation any longer. What the hell are you all talking about?”

“None of your business,” said Frederick.

“Then I’ve got a question for you,” I said, snorting with rage. “Were you the one who shot at Mr. Keller a while ago?”

“No,” Frederick said. “Why should I shoot at him?”

“I don’t have the faintest idea,” I said wildly. “That’s one of the things I’m trying to find out.”

Keller gently detached himself from Kore’s clinging arms.

“Sit down, Liebchen, and calm yourself. I apologize for losing control. She is correct, Frederick. I have done nothing. Nothing at all, except to stay here quietly and watch. You are the one who initiates action. What will you do now?”

“Take my daughter home,” Frederick said. “ Sandy, go and change.”

“No,” I said.

“I had anticipated a refusal,” Frederick said calmly. “I therefore enlisted an ally, reluctant as I was to do so. In this matter, however, we agree. He should be here presently.”

So we sat and waited. I tried to start a conversation, but nobody gave me any help; my leading remarks fell heavily into an abyss of silence. The situation was so bizarre I couldn’t think coherently. I had been exaggerating when I said I didn’t have the faintest idea what they were talking about. I did have an idea; but it seemed preposterous. Besides, I was preoccupied with the arrival of Frederick ’s ally, whose identity I thought I knew. Sure enough, before long there was another knock at the door, and the maid showed Jim into the living room. With him was Sir Christopher.

Talk about socially awkward situations. Offhand I can’t imagine anything worse than this one. Kore reacted with less than her usual savoir faire. She huddled in her chair, saying nothing and glaring impartially on the entire group. If looks could kill, all three outsiders would have dropped dead.

Men are amazing. Jim was the only one who looked embarrassed. The old enemies merely nodded at one another.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Jim began, glancing at his boss. “When I told him-”

“I thought I had better come along,” Sir Christopher said. “I confess that it was curiosity, in part. We never met, Herr Keller; but I saw you many times as you went about your duties.”

“I do not speak of those days,” said Keller softly.

Sir Christopher smiled. “Very wise. It would be better if we all forgot the past. I came primarily for another purpose: to offer my assistance to Sandy, whatever her plans may be.”

He wasn’t looking at me, though; he was staring at Keller as if trying to recognize a man he had once known. Keller couldn’t keep his eyes off Jim. Jim was looking at me, and I was trying to watch all of them at the same time. Frederick and Kore were the only ones not involved in the staring contest. Neither of them seemed at all interested in what was going on.

“ Sandy,” Jim said sharply.

“What? Oh. Are you all waiting for me to say something? How flattering. I haven’t made up my mind. Maybe I should take a poll. You all seem to have an opinion.”

“There is nothing to discuss,” Frederick said in a bored voice. “You promised to spend the summer helping me. I want you back at the house tonight, ready to work tomorrow morning.”

“One vote in favor of me leaving here, but staying on Thera,” I said brightly. “Jim? But I know what you think. You want me to go far, far away. Sir Christopher wants me to go too. Kore?”

“Stay,” said Kore, in a stifled voice. “You cannot go now. You cannot.”

“Three to one,” I said. “Mr. Keller?”

Keller didn’t answer. He was still staring at Jim. His eyes had a vacant glitter.

“I see now,” he said, as if to himself. “I see the meaning. Yes, it was meant; or why should you come, with his face, as I remember it? You are the one I have waited for, so that I could tell you.”

He advanced on Jim, who stood his ground. The rest of them moved as one man-or one person, including Kore. She made a dash at Keller and put her arms around him. Sir Christopher stepped in front of Jim. Frederick stood up.

“Wait,” he said. “Hold on-”

Somehow, I don’t know how, Kore got Keller turned around, and out of the room. He calmed down as soon as Jim was out of his sight and went with her like a big puzzled child. When the door had closed behind them, Jim let out a long whistle of relief.

“I’d better get out of here,” he said.

“You seem to affect the fellow adversely,” Sir Christopher agreed, studying his assistant curiously. “I would not have expected the resemblance to disturb Keller so much.”

“His conscience is disturbing him,” Jim said.

“No doubt. Well, my boy, I agree that we had better go. Frederick?”

“Not without Sandy,” said dear old Daddy, settling himself in his chair.

“Then I stay too,” said Sir Christopher grimly. “I’ll not have you harassing this girl, Frederick.”

“Whose girl is she?” demanded Frederick.

“Not yours,” I said. “ Frederick, whenever you suggest something, it makes me want to do the exact opposite. Leave. I may come tomorrow-if you get off my back. I certainly don’t intend to come now.”

“Oh, very well,” Frederick grumbled.

I went with them to the door. The maid seemed to have vanished.

Jim hung back. “I’ve got to talk to you,” he said out of the corner of his mouth.

“I would also like to talk to you,” I said.

“Can you sneak out of here?”

“Sneak? I’ll meet you tomorrow morning. Outside, if that’s what you want.”