The Game's Afoot (He Only Has One Left)

Christine says, "I swear," and seems to mean it.

Richter portions out blankets. For safety, everyone will sleep in one big room, except the ladies, of course, who will be in another. Each room, men's and ladies', has one person awake at all times.

Most of the Grimnoir have not been in the field with the Society before, but this is old hat to the veterans, including Belle.

The night passes peacefully. Everyone awakens with his magic restored near to fully, and after eating the oatmeal and coffee in the house, the Grimnoir hit the trail.

Richter can sense the Tattooed Man's kanji at considerable distance. He appears to be moving fast, westward.

It's a tight fit, but everyone can fit into Richter's car. Shortly after nine o'clock, he has the driver (Sky, probably) pull in to Tulsa so he can buy another Model T van. In back, unseen, the wounded (Sonny and Nick) can stretch out comfortably.

Richter pulls over around lunchtime.

"He's changed course," Richter says. "Now he's heading northeast, back the way he came. Either he switched trains, or he's in an airship."

A sandwich shop in Enid provides lunch. Richter buys double in case they have to last a while.

The two-car convoy turns around and finds a dirt road headed north. Richter turns east after a while, then south, then stops.

"He's made a complete circle," Richter says. "But he's not heading towards us -- he's going back towards Tulsa. We've burned all this rubber for nothing!"

He makes a circle in the dust by the side of the road and concentrates. Everyone feels a spark of magic pass through them, and the dust kicks up into the solid shape of a face.

"I thought his Power was Finding?" Nick says.

"It is," says Christine. "I'm sure of it."

"It seems there are different ways to talk to the spirits," Nick replies.

The face in the dust tells Richter, "We're gathering the Knights of New York and San Francisco to come to your aid. Follow only close enough to stay current on the target's location -- we don't want him to double back and wipe out your company before help arrives."

"With respect, sir, we have new assets," Richer insists. "Not just the two new Actives -- we've got several portable kanji which can grant different Powers. I think we can take him."

"You might be right, Ronald, but we aren't going to ever know for sure, because you aren't coming near him," says the face in the dust. He doesn't smile when he says it. "This could be another Spellbound, or worse yet, something new. The Grimnoir have run up on new things frequently -- we often lose men doing it. Let's not add to that list unless we absolutely have to."

"Understood, sir," says Richter. "We'll play it careful this time."

"That's all I could ask," says the dust. "Keep me posted. Oh, New York's on the line. I'll geas you later."

The dust blows away, as dust will when it's free to do as it pleases.

The track continues east, gaining southing as the afternoon fades. By night, the cars have crossed into Arkansas, and Richter's having trouble maintaining his grip on the kanji.

"They're as strong as ever, but my magic's about tapped," he says, grinding his knuckles in frustration. "Christine, can you keep me going?"

"It's my specialty," she replies, and touches his shoulder.

Richter jerks upright from his slump and a sudden grin splits his face alarmingly.

"HEL-lo, Nurse!" he says. "That's the old pepper! I put him ... hmm ... two hundred miles away, and moving about a hundred an hour. He's definitely airborne. But we're a long way from the only way to overtake him, which would be an aeroplane ... but as long as I've got this charge of juice in me, we can track him all the way to the ocean!"

His face clears of its joviality as suddenly as it brightened.

"But we won't have to," he says. "He's getting closer, and fast. In fact, I'd say he's heading right for us!"

The cars are parked on a slight upgrade on a gravel road through the Ozarks. There's a big red mountain behind and a dark mountain ahead, rimmed with the setting sun. There are no buildings or even houses, but there are a few pine trees and a whole lot of brush.

"We've got about two hours," Richter concludes. "Then he's going to be smack on top of us. If only there were some way to adjust his speed and direction, we could arrange to meet him at a place of our choosing."