The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters

and their Colonel. The door is locked, and—as you both can see—our room is without windows. I assume we have no weapons.”
    Chang and Svenson patted their pockets somewhat absently, not finding a thing.
    “We will acquire them, it does not signify,” she said quickly, not wanting to lose her place.
    “If we get out the door,” said Svenson.
    “Yes, of course—the important thing is stopping our enemies’ plan.”
    “And what exact plan is that?” asked Chang.
    “That is the issue—I only know a portion of it. But I trust you’ve each seen a portion of your own.”
    Keeping her promise to be brief, Miss Temple breathlessly launched into her tale: the St. Royale, Miss Vandaariff’s potion, the painting in the Contessa’s room, her battle with the book, her battle—in a strictly abbreviated version—with the Comte and Contessa in the coach, her train ride to Harschmort, and her journey to the theatre. Both Chang and Svenson opened their mouths to add details but she hushed them and went on—the secret room, the Contessa and the Prince, the killing of Blenheim, Elöise’s discovery in the blue card, Trapping, Vandaariff, Lydia, Veilandt, the ballroom, and, finally, the vicious argument between the Contessa and her allies not ten minutes before. The entire narrative took perhaps two hurriedly whispered minutes.
    When she was finished, Miss Temple took a deep breath, hoping she hadn’t forgotten anything vital, though of course she had—simply too much had
happened
.
    “So…” The Doctor pushed himself up from the floor onto the settee.
    “They have taken control of this government with the Duke—who I promise you was
killed
—and are on their way to taking over that of Macklenburg—”
    “If it is not offensive to you, Doctor,” said Miss Temple, “I do not understand the
to-do
about one amongst so many German kingdoms.”
    “Duchy, but yes—it is because our mountains hold more of this indigo clay than a hundred Tarr Manors put together. They have been acquiring the land for years…” His voice caught and again he shook his head. “In any case—if they journey tonight to Macklenburg—”
    “We will need to travel—” muttered Chang. His words were followed by another wracking cough he did his best to ignore, digging into each side pocket of his coat. “I have carried these quite a way, for this exact moment…”
    Miss Temple squeaked with happy surprise, blinking again at a new tickling of tears in each eye. Her green boots! She sat down on the floor without the slightest hesitation or thought of modesty and snatched them up, working her lost treasures joyfully onto each foot. She looked up at Chang, who was smiling—though still coughing—and set to tightening the laces.
    “I cannot tell you what this means,” she said, “you will laugh at me—you’re laughing now—I know they are only shoes, and I have many shoes, and to be honest I should not have given a pin for these four days before, but now I would not lose them for the world.”
    “Of course not,” said Svenson quietly.
    “O!” Miss Temple said. “But there are things of yours—from your greatcoat, which we lost, but as I said, we took the card, and there was also a silver case, for your cigarettes! Well, now that I say it, I do not have it—Elöise does, but once we find her, you shall have it back.”
    “Indeed…I…that is excellent—”
    “It seemed as if it might be precious to you.”
    The Doctor nodded, but then looked away, frowning, as if he did not want to say more. Chang coughed again, congestion echoing wetly in his chest.
    “We must do something for you,” said Svenson, but Chang shook his head.
    “It is my lungs—”
    “Powdered glass,” said Miss Temple. “The Contessa explained how she’d killed you.”
    “I am sorry to disappoint the Lady…” He smiled.
    Svenson looked at Chang quite soberly. “The glass alone would be harmful to your lungs—that it bears such toxic properties as well, it is a marvel you have not succumbed to hypnotic visions.”
    “I should prefer them to this coughing, I assure you.”
    “Is there any way to get it out?” asked Miss Temple.
    The Doctor frowned in thought. The Cardinal spat again, and began to speak.
    “My story is simple. When we did not know where you went, we split up, the Doctor to Tarr Manor and I to the Ministry, neither of us guessing correctly. I met Bascombe and the Contessa, witnessed the Process in action, fought Xonck,