Lee raced across the pavement to the old wooden door of the building. He shouldered it open and disappeared into the smoke and shooting flames. Zephyr held her breath.
Just then the fire engine came thundering up. Raincoated fire fighters jumped off the truck and began connecting the hose to the nearest hydrant.
In a moment, Zephyr saw Lee stragger out of the building, carrying a girl in his arms. She was clinging to his neck, coughing and sobbing hysterically. Zephyr and a young fireman rushed forward to help. The girl seem vexed at the sight of Zephyr, but allowed the fireman to help Anchises lower her to the grassy verge of the parking area. She seemed delighted at their concern and attention.
Gradually, after struggling for breath and fluttering her eyelids as if reviving from a faint, she permitted Lee to help her sit up. Then, in another few moments, with his arm around her, she managed to rise to her feet, but leaned closely against him for support. She was a tall, thin girl with mouse-colored brown hair, and she was not very attractive due to her petulant expression.
Her pale brown eyes focused on the young man's face as she quavered, "Oh,Nereids! I just left to go down to Center Street to get a bite of launch. I wasn't gone more than twenty minutes. And I came to this!"
Pressing her hands to her eyes,she wailed, "Oh, I should never have gone! I hope none of your work is ruined!"
"Now, now" Anchises said, "you are not to worry. You are safe. That is the important thing."
"No, oh no! Your work is the most important thing. If only you hadn't gone out this morning, all this might never have happened!" She declared, shooting a withering glance at Zephyr between sobs. "Whatever else you had to do, surely it didn't matteras much as your work and experiments here!"
Ignoring her comments, Anchises said, "Zephyr, let me introduce Xyra Sandoval, my secretary and all-around helper. She is invaluable!"
Xyra simpered and blushed.
"Hi" the titian-haired girl smiled.
At the moment, Zephyr suddenly realized how surprising it was that she and Anchises had reached the scene even before the fire engine arrived. Xyra must have called Clio Priam Erato's office before she even phoned in an alarm! And why hadn't she left the building sooner! Obviously she adored Anchises. Could she have set the blaze herself just for the sake of being rescued by the handsome young man?
Aloud, feeling somewhat sorry for Xyra, Zephyr said, "Anchises, your very lucky to have found someone so capable and dedicated."
The mousy-haired girl glanced at Zephyr with less animosity now.
Lee smiled "Yes, truly. Xyra and I met when I first want to see the Alcides, just after I arrived in Melopomene Hieghts. She's a good friend of Thallia's."
Not anymore, I'll bet! Thought Zephyr.
"Later Xyra came to see my workshop," Anchises went on. "When I showed her my memory deviceand explained how I worked, she voluntered to help me."
"Gee, that was nice of you, Xyra," Zephyr said politely.
Meanwhile, fire fighters had been playing streams of water on the burning building and soon extinguished the small smokey fire.
The fire captain frowned suspiciously as he went inside to inspect the damage. When he came out again, he said to Anchises, "Are you the sole occupant of this building?"
"Yes, I live above my workshop," Anchises replied.
"Any enemies?"
The young man shrugged in surprise. "Not so far as I am aware. Why?"
