Theo gave his wife a look of extreme disapproval.
'It's about the mother goddess ... isn't it?'
Tom returned to his seat and launched forth on his standard lecture about the goddess and how she was the personification of all things female. He claimed that her followers saw her everywhere.'
Molly had heard it all before and wasn't impressed.
'Tom. Wasn't there a male god?'
'There certainly was,' Tom slurred his words.
'What happened to him?'
'He came and went.'
'Aye, Tom. He came at the start of each season, had his way with the young women and was put to death at harvest time.'
'That is roughly correct,' Tom agreed.
Molly cast a dark eye on him.
'I fail to understand your fascination with those times.'
Tom downed his glass and an alcoholic haze enveloped him. 'You have to understand, Molly, that much of what you accept in the Christian religion comes from those older times.' He did his best to concentrate. 'The early church went out of its way to absorb what was best in the old religions. The mother goddess was reborn as Mary. Jesus is the god who had to die.'
'That is simply not true!'
Theo Duncan-Brown rose to his feet.
'I have heard enough of your ridiculous nonsense to last a lifetime.'
He strode across the room and reached for his wife. Molly ran after them as Patricia was marched to the door. Tom sank back in his chair and reached for the brandy.
He was slipping into a contented sleep when Colin strode into the room. Tom pulled himself into an upright position, aware that he had caused a few upsets.
'You've really done it this time.'
'Done what?'
Tom scratched himself.
'You tried to seduce his wife then you made offensive remarks about the Virgin Mary and the Early Church.
'I did nothing of the sort.'
'That's how it seemed.'
'Things aren't always as they seem, Colin.'
Colin took in a deep breath.
'You said that at your court marshal ... Major Carter.'
'I was cleared,' Tom protested.
'The court found it convenient to conclude that you had not taken a shortcut across a neutral country in order to attack the enemy in the rear. That way they avoided a major diplomatic incident.
'I received a glowing testimonial.'
'Aye, Tom. Your commanding officer said you were a fine soldier but he wrote it after you had handed in your resignation.'
Tom pulled himself up. 'What's this got to do with that snotty-nosed squirt, Theo Duncan-Brown?'