It has been an exciting few days here, and there is no way I could keep up with my journal. Every night there is feasting and dancing. It worked out well that I stayed at the House of the Dolphins. I have become aquainted with both of Gaia's sons. Apollo will be going back to his post in the west. I have promised to write to him.

Events here have been so dramatic. A Herkules from Thebs seemed to be winning all the games. Then he just dropped out of the equestrian events at the last moment. Then that devastating Sparten just seemed to take over, but in the middle of the night he ran off. He ran off with a mysterious woman! Alas, I think he may have drowned, but she, as rumor has it, came ashore on Cypress. They say she comes here every year. Does she always take a victim? That is the way I see it. I see him as her victim. Then the entire thing was dramatised and reinacted at our own theater. I am still stunned by it all.

Some local boys wanted to help us with our belongings. Gaia wanted me to stay with her. She did not think I should stay alone in a house. I felt secure there, for I had stayed there many times in the past. The House of Diadoumenos is my family home. It is over toward the stadium. The boys carried my things as directed, and brought them inside for me. I thanked them and paid them for their help.

As they left me, I sensed an unusal odor of sandalwood and musk. I had understood the place to have been closed for about six months. When I moved toward the atrium I was aware of the soft glow of a lamp. On the wall I saw the shadow of what appeared to be a statue. Then the shadow moved and it was a living breathing stark naked man!

"I think you are in the wrong place!" Evidentaly I had startled him as much as he did me. "I think it is you who are in the wrong place!" I repeated his words with conviction. I was not agast at the sight of a perfectly beautiful naked male. I was greatly affronted that this man, whoever he was, had the audacity to be inhabiting my family home, when I was not there.

"This is the House of Diadoumenos. What are you doing here? I shall summon the authorities! This does not happen on Delos."

"This is the Sparten Embassy, he replied. "I have a signed contract." I did not have to look at the contract. The sound of of his voice told me he was speaking the truth. How could my uncle Demitri do this to me? This was my family home. I examined the contract. This was now the Sparten Embassy. "I will send someone for my things. I have friends that I can stay with."

"Forgive me if our presence here distrubs you. I am Lysergus of Sparta and this embassy is my mission. Others will soon be joining me. We are here for the games."

Slowly I backed out of my own home, and made haste for The House of the Dolphins.

After the BALL_