"I'll go after Josephine," Ehrich volunteered. "I'd like to observe
too.  I've dealt with mesmerists before, but only performers."

Shaw looked questioningly at Freud.  "Why not do it in the open where
we can all hear?" he asked. "You were able to hypnotize Stalin in a
crowd after all, and we will not be fighting you as I'm sure he
did. The reason I brought this idea up in the first place was so we
could all hear this together."

Charles nodded.  "I too, think it would be best done here - in view of
everyone.  Take no offense Friend, but too much has happened around
here, when groups are divided.  I say that we stay together.  If you
can hypnotize us each or in groups of two or three at a time - Here on
the deck of this boat, then do so.  Otherwise, we will have to ponder
our dreams with the waking mind."

Freud nodded, slowly. "When I hypnotized Stalin," he replied to Shaw,
"I wasn't on a boat. It would have been easier for me to work below,
but I can adapt. What shall the order be, then?"

"Perhaps we should begin with those who have not had any dreams yet?"
Charles suggested. "Or perhaps the reverse of that -- I leave that up
to the group to decide. I'll be happy to go first."

"So then," Freud said, "Charles, Josephine, Ehrich, and Shaw? Jeanne
seems opposed to being hypnotized. Very well. Before we begin, would
you like to decide upon a standard set of questions for me to ask each
person? You all know more about each other than I do, and Shaw in
particular may have an idea about what would be revealing to know."

			      *  *  *  *
Louis smiled briefly, and his thoughts drifted from the accursed River
back to France.

"I was, in my short life, mainly a politician," he began.
"Robespierre's chief deputy.  But I did wage personal battles and even
commanded a field of men.  My greatest moment in combat was after that
witch, Corday, murdered Marat in his bath.  She was captured by Agents
of the Committee, but Robespierre knew she had a sponsor and it was my
task to bring the vermin to Madame Guillotine.

"My agents and I trailed him through many false names and eventually
discovered him, fleeing through the Bois de Boulogne, a large forest,
outside the Champs-Elysees district.  He surrendered, groveling upon
his knees.  I threw my sword to him and demanded that he rise and die
like a man.  An agent lent me his blade and we had at each other for
thirty minutes.

"What a battle!  The man had courage after all!  He drew a fine slice
across my arm, but it was as this moment that I struck! and ran him
through.

"Needless to say," he concluded, "Robespierre was angry with me, as he
wanted a public execution, but I never liked Marat and thought the man
deserved to die better."

Louis laughed whole-heartedly.  "And needless to say, I died in a
public execution...but Madame Guillotine was quick, and I got to watch
Robespierre go first!"

Eyes turned to Mandragola, sitting on the edge of the group and
looking slightly uncomfortable.  Eventually, he spoke.  "I hate to
disappoint you all, but I always lived by the motto of, 'The pen is
mightier than the sword,' so I'm afraid I don't have any tales with
which to regale you."

He gazed off into the distance before suddenly remembering.  "I did
once train and command a militia unit, though. A fine body of men
indeed." He trailed off into silence again.

			      *  *  *  *