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would offset that garishness with a fabulous fountain. Perhaps one imported directly from Italy. Eddie would like that, after all, The Forum was a play on Rome, so it would be natural to want a fountain from . . .
    They turned to the left, and Pamela stumbled to a horrified halt.
    Opening up in front of them was a monstrosity that spewed bubbling water and naked gods and goddesses. Pamela could feel her head shaking back and forth as if it didn’t belong to her. It was atrocious. Huge marble horses lunged from the lighted pool as water frothed around them. Zeus or Poseidon or some other naked god stood atop a platform holding a pointed trident as he stared sternly down at the billowing water. Against one side of the fountain diners sat in little café tables of an obviously popular Italian restaurant. Pamela wondered how they could hear one another over the roar of the erupting water.
    â€œNo, no, no, not this fountain,” Eddie touched her back, guiding her easily past the wet hulk. “I have no need for an imitation of Trevi. I want something truly unique.”
    Relieved, Pamela gave him a weak smile.
    â€œI do not like that, either,” Eddie said as they hurried by The Disney Store, which hosted a life-sized Pegasus sticking out of the top of it. “A winged horse seems a little too much to me.”
    Pamela nodded silently. A winged horse was “a little too much,” but a domed ceiling painted to look like the sky lit with eternal sunlight wasn’t? She set her jaw. She liked a challenge. Really. She was an excellent, experienced interior designer with a keen sense of taste and style. She liked eccentric clients. No, she reminded herself firmly, she didn’t just like them, she preferred them. There was no project so weird or tacky or bizarre that she couldn’t take it and whip it into something tasteful and refined.
    A crowd of people milled in front of them, from the middle of which a tall man’s raised arm caught Pamela’s attention.
    â€œAh, there is James. He has chosen an excellent spot.”
    Eddie tucked her against him as he plunged into the crowd, propelling them forward like a whale cutting through a school of guppies. When they reached the tall man, Eddie pushed her forward. A little short of breath, she smiled a greeting, but the expression died on her face as she realized where they stood.
    It was in front of another massive fountain. This one was shaped like an arabesque window. The center of it was dominated by a gigantic stone man sitting on a throne. Three standing statues ringed the throned figure, but Pamela didn’t have a chance to get a clear impression of them because at that instant the eternal sunlight that shined off the domed ceiling faded, and a thick fog began pouring from openings at the base of the throne. Pamela sneezed at the tangy scent of dry ice.
    â€œBless you!” Eddie said from behind her. Then he leaned down to speak in her ear. “It begins. Watch closely.”
    Maniacal laughter erupted from the middle of the fountain, and Pamela felt a weird little jolt of shock as she realized that the center statue had become animated. The laughter was issuing from its moving lips. In amazement, Pamela watched as the seated figure swiveled on its dais so that it was facing them.
    â€œIt is time! It is time!” The talking statue proclaimed. “I am Bacchus! Come one—Come all! Come to the mall!”
    The animated Bacchus lifted his goblet, which suddenly glowed golden. But Pamela spared only a small look at the new special effects. Bacchus’ face had captured her attention. She decided he resembled a grotesque reproduction of the Three Stooges’ Curly all dressed up in a toga with grape leaves around his bald head and several chins dangling down his neck. More laughter spewed from his mouth as he pretended to drink a toast to the crowd.
    â€œCaesar! Welcome the visitors to our Forum!”
    At Bacchus’