Athena got up and faced the company. "In general," she began at once, "I
think we can pass the candidate completely on the psychological records.
The Index of Subordination is low, but we don't want one too high for
this post. Too, the Beta curve shows a good deal of variation, a
Dionysian characteristic. There is, perhaps, a stronger sense of
responsibility than is recorded in the Dionysian index, but this may not
be a handicap."
"By no means," Hera said. "Responsibility is something we could all do
with more of, around here." She shot a poisonous glance at Morpheus,
whose eyes were now completely closed.
Forrester, busily wondering what his Beta curve was, and why it varied,
and what he would do if he lost it and had to get another one, missed
the next few words of Athena's report. The word that did impinge on his
consciousness did so with a shock.
"Sex," Athena said. "But, after all, that is not quite in my
department." She looked as if she were very glad of the fact. "In
general, as I say, the psychological tests present no insuperable
barriers."
"Fine," Hera said. She dug Zeus in the ribs again.
"Oh," Zeus said. "Yes. Fine."
"Next," Hera said.
"Yes," Zeus said. "By all means. Next."
Mars got up. He was now scratching the hair on his chest. He looked
around at the others with a definitely unfriendly expression.
"The physical department is mine," he said. "The candidate can handle
himself, all right. There isn't much doubt of it." He burped, wiped his
mouth with the back of one hand, and went on: "Of course, he's let
himself run to fat a little here and there, but it isn't really serious.
Mainly a matter of glandular balance or something like that, as far as I
understand Hermes' report."
Forrester began to feel like a prize chicken.
"And physical training," Mars said. "Well, there hasn't _been_ any
training, that's all. And that's bad."
"He is not being considered for your position," Vulcan said. "One
muscular brainless imbecile is enough."
Mars took a deep breath.
"Please," Hera said. "Continue the report."
The breath came out in an explosion. "All right," Mars said.
"Discounting the training end of things, and assuming that Hermes can
fix up the glandular mess, I think he can pass the physical."
Forrester wasn't sure that he liked being referred to as a glandular
mess. On the other hand, he asked himself, what could he do about it? He
stood quietly, wondering what was coming next.
His worst fears were fulfilled.
Venus stepped forward and gave her report. Basically, it was a codicil,
of a rather specialized nature, to the physical report. While it was
going on, Forrester glanced at Athena. She looked every bit as
embarrassed as he felt, and her face wore a look of sheer pain. Once he
thought she was going to leave the room, but she remained grimly seated
until it was all over.
Forrester couldn't figure out, when he thought about it, how the Gods
had managed to give him all these tests without his knowing anything
about it. But, then, they were supernatural, weren't they? And they had
their own methods. A mortal didn't have to understand them.
Forrester wasn't sure he was happy with that idea, but he clung to it.
It was the only one he had.
When Venus finished her report, there was a little silence.
"Any other comments?" Hera whispered to her husband.
"Ah, yes," Zeus said. "Other comments. If anyone has any other comments
to make, please make them now. Now is the time to make them."
He sat back. Morpheus stirred slightly and spoke without opening his
eyes or sitting up. "Sleep," he said.