Or perhaps he hadn't. Perhaps he'd done the things he'd done reluctantly, and only in order to save his people from alien wrath such as had struck tonight.
In any case, the death of the alien in the Labyrinth had served as trigger for the disaster. One of their number slain, the extraterrestrials no doubt had concluded Earth unsafe, and so had fled back to the outer space from which they'd come.
Which meant that the alien's slayer was also responsible for Knossos' fall ... the death that had struck down all the hundreds trapped in the now-blighted palace area tonight.
Only there was another side to that, too.
For instance, suppose he'd stayed in his own time; never come to Crete, nor slain the Minotaur?
Where would that leave Earth? As an alien outpost, overrun with telepathic octopodal horrors, while Man survived as mere serfs to carry out the bidding of the master race?
But then, while he still stood brooding--fatigue-worn, lame, half-sick--the first pale fingers of the sun began to touch the horizon with rose.
Turning, Burke stared down at the river and the tiny port village near its mouth.
As if his move had been a signal, there was a sudden stir of activity. Men hurried to and fro along the water's edge. A Greek long ship pushed out from shore.
Now those aboard the craft hoisted its sail.
Because the black sail made it Theseus' ship.
And legend said Theseus left Crete with Ariadne.
Burke ran for the point closest to the water; stared tight-lipped at the long, slim vessel.
Scarlet caught his eye--the scarlet of a woman's bright-striped cloak.
The same cloak Ariadne had swirled for him so prettily, perhaps--?
Burke dived from his point, straight down into the river. With all his strength, he swam to intercept the slowly-drifting long ship.
Now those aboard had glimpsed him. Men pointed. Women's voices rose, thin on the morning breeze.
Burke plowed the water closer ... closer....
And now a brawny, familiar figure came striding to the bow: Theseus, Hero of Athens.
Burke swam the harder. Just a dozen strokes more--
Almost, it seemed as if he could reach out and touch Theseus.
The Athenian leaned forward--face stiff, teeth bared, eyes bright with malice. Then his arm came up and back, and Burke saw he gripped a spear.