The tension was broken. Even Charles had to laugh. He pushed the remote control button. The next slide was also of the Whore, but taken from a greater distance, and with a young woman standing next to it to give some idea of the size of the statue.

'Who's the girl?' asked Richard.

'Phew!' said Ann. 'I thought you were going to identify her, too!'

'A friend of mine,' said Charles. 'A journalist. Her name's Joan Hart. Have you heard of her? She's doing a biography of Bugenhagen, the archaeologist.'

The next slide was a close-up of Joan: a striking-looking woman, with auburn hair and flashing eyes.

'You seem taken with her, Charles,' Ann said.

Charles shook his head and laughed. 'Not by a long shot. But she's very good at what she does. As a matter of fact, she's coming to Chicago. Soon, I think. She wants to interview you, Richard.'

'Me?' asked Richard. 'What for?'

'Background on the dig, the exhibition,' said Charles. ‘That sort of thing.'

'You know I hate to give interviews, Charles.'

'I know.'

'Of any kind.'

'I know, but I thought—'

‘Tell her that.'

'All right, all right.' Charles shook his head at Richard's reluctance to be interviewed, although he knew that Thorn had always insisted on privacy, on a life away from the public eye, and he had to admit he respected that. He wasn't sure he could be so disciplined were he as much in the limelight as Thorn was. But maybe that's why Thorn was in the limelight and he was not. God worked in mysterious ways, after all.

***

A short while later, the three of them were standing in the front hall saying good night.

'I'll be in town tomorrow,' said Richard, helping Charles on with his coat, 'but Ann has to stay here to close the house.’

Charles nodded. 'It's been a good summer,' he said and turned to kiss Ann.

'I'll see you the day after tomorrow,' she said, opening the front door. 'Drive carefully.'

Richard walked Charles to his car. 'About Aunt Marion-' he began.

'Already forgotten,' smiled Charles as he slid behind the wheel. Richard closed the door and stood back to wave good-bye as Charles drove off in to the cold November night. Then he exhaled a big puff of frosty breath and headed back inside.

***

Unknown to those below, Aunt Marion had heard every word of the parting conversation, including Richard's attempt to apologize for her behavior that evening. She had opened her window before getting into bed, as she did every night. She claimed that the cold night air did her good.