We have triumphed, for the moment.

I am waiting for Mr Ramsay to finish messing about with the Vampire in the cellars.

The conquest did not go exactly according to our plan, but there has been very little bloodshed. Except for the late Comte and Herr Schmidt.

As we approached our destination, the Mystics began to intensify their chanting.
The sky was roiling with clouds and wind.

The Mystics directed their first effort to panicking the Prussians horses. I don't know exactly what they did, but I learned shortly that it worked.

Suddenly, Miss Chigwidgeon disappeared. As did Mr Cuthbert, the Marquis, and Mr Deveril.

Miss Whitnell declared that they had been taken by the Comte. This did not change the chanting, however, as that was still the best thing for the Mystics to do.

It wasn't more than a few moments before Miss Whitnell said "The spell has gone…"

And then Herr Schmidt appeared right in front of her. He spoke to her in his gloating manner, calling her Mrs Forrester. Now, I know he meant it to rattle her, but it just made her angry. She threw one of her silver concoctions onto him, splashing him quite liberally. In an instant he disappeared again, but Miss Whitnell didn't look as though that were the expected outcome.

By this time we were slowing just by the Van Gower place. We came to a stop and the cavalry were out of the cars and ahorse amazingly quickly. The Mystics were again chanting , preferring to continue their work from inside the iron rail car.

I addressed Turgenov and asked if he would help me find the Woman. His expression conveyed agreement, so off we went.
In the bustle I found it easy to take my horse and slip away.

Turgenov and I approached the barns in the darkness. I could hear German voices all around, exclaiming and calling, evidently trying to round up their scattered horses. I dismounted and led my horse. Turgenov picked up a scent near one of the barns. It was quieter here. As we approached the barn, door I could see candle or lantern light from within. I left my horse at the door. The barn was mostly empty, but for a woman, sitting in a ring of candles. I approached with my pistol drawn.

She looked up at me. I could only say, "Hello, What are you doing?" She could see I had a gun in my hand, but she didn't look frightened of me. Just tired, or like she had given up hope or the will to survive.

I really didn't know what she would do. She really was pregnant.

"Are you all right?" I asked. She said she was. I put my gun away and reached down to help her get up. Just then Mr Frazer came in, looking a bit wild in the eyes. I felt a profound satisfaction that I was here helping this woman who was such an important person to him. For him, or despite him, I couldn't say.

I heard a thunderous voice demanding surrender--it was Miss Chigwidgeon's voice, as I had heard it on the Griffin. An interesting turn, I thought.

Mr Frazer, Miss Metzger and I made our way toward the voice. The Mystics had come out of their rail car and were racing about in various directions. I saw Mrs Cuthbert heading for a cellar entrance–Miss Metzger said something about the prisoners there, and that one of them was a vampire. I asked her to describe him...it wasn't Peter or any of the ones I knew.

I heard Edward's voice above us, inside the house, asking plaintively if he could shoot. The reply was from Emily, and the fool girl said, "Yes." I shouted "No," but it was too late, I could hear the hiss of the rockets.

Sir Cosmo nearly ran over us on his way to the stairs, carrying some seltzer bottles. Plainly he was prepared to put out rocket fuses.

I found Miss Whitnell at last, in the House's foyer. Miss Chigwidgeon came in, and she looked truly frightful. She was entirely drenched in blood. She was hasty to assure us that none of it was her own.

Mrs Cuthbert also came in, returned from her visit to the cellars, bringing one (apparently friendly) person with her and saying that she had left Inspector MacGregor there to guard the remaining (unfriendly vampire) prisoner.

Mr Ramsay, on hearing about the Vampire, took up a satchel of stakes and so forth and went down to the cellar. Mrs Cuthbert wanted me to go too, but I indicated that I had something else in hand.

I introduced Miss Metzger to my friends, and asked what they thought we could do for her. Miss Metzger herself seemed passive, quiescent, though she indicated some surprise when we told that her mother was worried about her. I was watching her for any sign that she might break and run from us, or that she would turn on us.

The Mystics asked her some questions. She tried to answer, but said that the binding on her prevented her from speaking of the Sorcerer who had bound her--she could tell us that it wasn't the Comte.

Mrs Cuthbert and Miss Whitnell indicated that the baby she was carrying wasn't entirely human, that it had an aura somewhat like Schmidt's.

I asked her if she wanted to have her soul unbound. She answered quietly, "Yes."

At that point I left Miss Metzger with Mrs Cuthbert, having made her promise to stay close by her and guard her until I returned. I then came down here to the cellars to check on Mr Ramsay and Inspector MacGregor and to relay a few messages and warnings about knives with vampire teeth and that sort of thing.

• The Prussian troops, including the officers and the sick dog, have surrendered to Miss Chigwidgeon and our cavalry.
  Sir Cosmo has put out the flaming rockets,
• Von Gower has been captured.
• Schmidt has been beheaded and his head put in an Iron box. Comte d'Erlette was shot with Mr Cuthbert's Elephant gun and Miss
• Whitnell has "laid him to rest."
• The Abbott is on his way to help us with containment and tidying up.

Yet, it's not over. So many questions remain…

• What sorcerer remains to bind Miss Metzger?
• Is her part- Efreet child dangerous to us or to her?
• What are we to do with the Vampire prisoner?
• Did the giant gun get into Belgium?
• Did we avert the war or only slow down a little part of it?
• Is there any food left that doesn't smell like that horrible cheese?

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