"The problem with our view of divinity is that they see it as too modest a goal. Lately, I find myself wondering if they are not right."

I lay back on the warm sand and looked up into the endless blue. "Indifference seems to be the way most of us deal with it, barring the doors of our ivory towers against them."

"Held hostage in those towers, of stone or ivory," he said, nodding toward the lighthouse.

"If a hostage in a tower, why not of ivory?" I asked.

"Why not indeed, why not of gold?" he shouted. "Are you still not within the confines of a tower? This cuts to the heart of your quandary does it not?"

"Looking at it simply, I suppose it does. I have the opportunity to choose the material of my cell, so why not?" I wanted to tell him that the conditions of his exile, though beautiful, were as unacceptable, long term, as those of the Ohio Hotel but I checked myself and continued. "I simply want to live as comfortably as possible."

"And who should blame you? If your quandary is as rudimentary as that then you toil for naught." His tired eyes met my questioning glance. "Did not Auda give you the gift of wealth?"

"Yes, but--"

"But what?" he challenged. "Why put yourself at peril? Surely that is the only thing that has deterred you up till now."

"Yes, but the risks do not apply to me--"

"And the rewards great and immediate," he said finishing my sentence.

"Yes," I conceded.

He sat up and adjusted his pole a few inches. "It is true that bodily peril holds only a limited terror for us, but there are other hazards best left untried. I know your youthful blood runs hot with want, but keep in mind that Samas knows that too. Why chance it Evan when all that is required of you is patience." He stood up slowly, looking at his twitching line. "Yes, patience."

He pulled his pole just as the line jumped. The top of the polished cane arched toward the water in quick jerking motions. He fought his way back up the sloping beach until a red and yellow fish the size of my thigh emerged from the sea.

"Grab it!" he shouted.

"It's big enough to feed a dozen of us," I said as I pinned it down with my knee.

Clovis ran up to remove the hook. "This is a rare treat my friend. These fish are delicious. This is the largest one I have brought to land in a long time," he said, beaming with childlike excitement.

"It looks like my services won't be needed for a while," I joked.

He grabbed the fish under the gills and hefted it up. "You can prepare it if you like."

"Sure," I said, pulling in the other two lines. "What do I do?"