ah, Achilles, you must be careful against the wrath of the sons of Priam NEVER THEY WHO HAVE SLAIN PATROCLUS WILL DIE AT THE HANDS OF A NAKED MAN NAKED IS MY SWORD, MY GRIEF, AND MY BODY at least wear a helmet VERY WELL BUT NOTHING ELSE but if they shoot at anyplace on your body besides your head – THEN THEY SHALL BE SHOOTING AT A NAKED AVENGING SPIRIT…

EUROPE, 1500 "Ah, gentleman. I'm glad to see you've all managed to arrive safely. I trust you had pleasant journeys." Murmurs of assent. "Let us begin. Europe is at the height of her cultural and political influence; we have the riches of the classical world as well as the novelties of the Age of Discovery to draw upon as we enter a new era of artistic expression. What, then, shall we paint?" Abashed silence. "Nothing?…

Because of the taboo on torsal nudity, it is worse to overheat if you are a woman than if you are a man, and the last few weeks in London have been abominable. It isn’t just too hot for the British, with our reptile blood and undeveloped hearts – it is too hot for anybody. What’s that faint sound, wafting on the wind? Lo, it is the rub of thigh upon reddened thigh, the trickle…