I swallow, and we look at each other across the table, breathing in the beeswax air from the desk and listening to the sound of Athens above our heads. Megalos nods once, then sighs heavily. The shine in him retreats, and the modern theologian re-emerges. "I believe this is a matter of practical theology. In the world we inhabit now, theology is speculative. It is the discussion of otherworldly things. But to our forefathers it was no more than the examination of commonly known truths. These days we hear of the Garden of Eden and we think of a garden. We hear of original sin and we imagine a specific transgression—but our sin is not one of action but of understanding. Ah. You look like one of my novices. Indulge me."