now indeed i was sorely worried concerning xeon, for he must languish in the dungeon until the conclave is satisfied to release him, and this they cannot do until they meet again.

i needed a sufficient excuse to call a meeting of the conclave, whereupon i might argue for the lad. when i heard that rocsates again desired audience, i immediately proclaimed a meeting of the conclave to be held the next day at dawn, and so that night slept well.

the conclave had come to order and formalities had been initiated when rocsates entered and took his place. he clutched under one shoulder a thin, rectangular object, but that is not what impressed me. his appearance—he looked as if he had not slept of late, nor eaten either. his eyes were sunken, and his features had doubled in age. he was bent and tired. but it was his eyes. there was a horror in them.

i was shocked, and could not help staring at him. and then the formalities were over. i intended to speak for xeon, but rocsates was on his feet and i gave way.

"i have indeed discovered the secret of reproduction," he began. "after many searchings, i came upon this—" and he held forth the object he had carried in. "it is a book. it is entitled, 'living a normal sex life.' it seems to be some sort of a do-it-yourself pamphlet." he dropped the book on the table and rubbed his hands over his eyes.

there was something in the man's behavior that commanded everyone's attention. he went on, speaking low. "the word 'sex' is not defined, but it seems to mean...." his words trailed off. he was obviously unsure of how to continue. "i had better start at the beginning, i suppose," he said. "you see, once upon a time there were birds and bees...."