Chapter Two
Konrad had intended to conduct his explorations somewhere during the night; nearing dawn, perhaps, when the creatures that swarmed those hazy lands were beginning to think of rest. But urgency left him no peace. The case presented an interesting problem, but no mere academic one; the city’s people stood at risk, whether because the creature that had killed the unfortunate Matenk was still at large among them, or because whatever had permitted it to enter the city in the first place might occur again.
So Konrad waited only until darkness had swallowed Ekamet, and the hour grew enough advanced that the inspector’s men must have completed their work, and left.
Then he stole back to Parel’s Bridge. He had with him his snake-headed cane, more for confidence than because it could
