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"When this happened, the er be able to serve as Ministers They didn’t want the leader of Atlantia to have too much opportunity for unfair persuasion

"Then, several years later, there was an awful day in the teht before the Minister’s ser

The one singing said she had to tell the people the truth about our world The one screa said the people weren’t ready to hear it, that the truth could ruin them

"After that no one could make out any of their words, only the sounds, and the sounds were terrible

"So terrible that some of the worshippers in the te from their ears and terror in their eyes

"They died under the statues of the gods and in full view of the congregation, and after they fell, the two sirens stopped screaed them to come back to life, but of course that didn’t work Even a siren can’t coan to weep and could not stop The peacekeepers broke through at last and took away the sirens and, later, the bodies No one could believe such a terrible thing had happened in the temple, where everyone is supposed to be safe

"After that disastrous day, the Council decreed that the sirens should be under their protection and governance The sirens were so distraught over what had happened that they agreed They thought it was better for everyone"

When Maire finishes, Atlantia is quiet "And so," Maire says, "began the long domestication and decline of the sirens"

"Those two sirens," I ask, "what becareed to abide by the new rules," Maire says "The other committed suicide"

"How?"

"She drowned herself in the wishing pool," Maire says "The one where I met you the other day She used locks to chain her hands and feet together, and then she threw herself into the water, at night, when she knew no one would co to save her Hers was the first voice I was able to hear clearly, years ago It’s gone now She’s gone now"

I don’t know about that I can picture her in my mind, seaweed-haired, blue-li at the bottom of the pool, two flat coins settled in the sockets where her eyes used to be The thought makes me shiver

"Your mother did love you," Maire says "But it made her afraid You can’t let love make you afraid"

How can she say that? And how could she leave my mother out on the doorstep that day? If Bay died like that, I would bring her inside, away fro eyes I would use h it wouldn’t work, I’d have to try

I stand up to leave Maire followsdown the house for the last of the night

"You knohat they were, don’t you?" Maire says as I open the door "The two sirens in the temple"