Pluto poured red wine into waiting glasses, rose to carry it to them. He nodded to the bench as he approached, reached the wine toward them.
Pirithousaccepted the glass, moved to the bench. Theseus frowned. Something was wrong. But what?
Finally he too moved to the bench, joined his friend.
"We came to . . . ." Pirithous was silent, glanced at Theseus. Shaking his head, he repeated, "We came to . . . ." He could not continue.
Theseus sat quietly, empty-eyed.
Without a sound Pluto took the wine glasses from lax hands, called his minion to carry away the glasses and wine.
He sat, looked at his visitors, then turned away.
They waited now for the coming of Hercules.
And Ceres waited, too.
She waited for a champion.