Dio understood that puppet meant the image of the god Khonsu.
"And does the king know it?" she asked.
"Know what?"
"That there may be bloodshed."
"No, he does not know. Why should he know? That he might revoke the decree? If he revoked this one, others would still be in force. And what is one to do? There is no teaching the fools without bloodshed!"
He sat up suddenly, put his feet on the floor, moved up to her, took her by the hand and smiled in the ambiguous way, with a sort of wink, which, again, there was no need for her to notice unless she chose to.
"You know, Dio, I have long wanted to ask you, why do you dislike me? I have always been a friend to you. Tammuzadad saved you, but I, too, have done something..."
Dio started and drew her hand away. Tuta pretended not to notice it and continued to smile.
"Why do you think?...." she began, and broke off, blushing and looking down. As always when she was alone with him she felt stiff, awkward—as though she had done some wrong and been caught unawares.
"What do you want me for?" she asked suddenly, almost rudely.