In the center of the raised platform, with the Gods staring at him, he felt like something under a microscope.
"William Forrester," Zeus said, and he shuddered. The All-Father's voice had never been more powerful. "William Forrester, from this moment onward you will renounce your present name. You will be known as Dionysus the Lesser until and unless it shall please us to confer another name on you. Henceforth, you will be, in part, a recipient of the worship due to Dionysus, and you will hold the rank of demi-God. Do you accept these judgments and this honor?"
Forrester gulped. A long time seemed to pass. At last he found his voice. "I do," he said.
"Very well," Zeus said.
The Gods joined hands and closed the circle around Forrester, surrounding him completely. The golden auras that shone about their bodies grew more and more bright. Forrester clutched the golden cylinders tightly.
Then, very suddenly, there was an explosion of light. Forrester thought he had staggered, but he was never sure. Everything was too bright to see. Dizziness began, and grew.
The room whirled and tipped. Somewhere a great organlike note began, and went on and on.
Forrester convulsed with the force of a single great burst of energy that crashed through his nervous system.
And then, in a timeless instant, everything went black.