The writer gives life to a story, the reader keeps it alive.
Anya’s memories have been triggered by her return to Moscow. She has been awarded two hours leave, by Helga Ritter, for presenting the American president with the Bad Thing Box. Fully aware that there is a tracking device in her wrist, she is compelled to visit her parent’s old home, to return to a place full of good memories.
Inajda and Alexand, in the guise of two Amanojuko candidates, watch from the Auditorium as the vice president of Mongolia is offered eternal life by Lady Helga Ritter.
Helga Ritter returns to the Floating Asylum to give news to Lord Anderson about the death of Eric Mehmed.
Filius Anderson has placed a bug into Colonel Merek’s mechanical index finger and has been monitoring her conversations. He is pleasantly surprised to learn that her prodigal mother, Inajda Rekaya has re appeared, and is in fact an undercover enemy agent.
Heyem has stopped going out at night and rarely socialises. She has thrown herself into her work, and every night, after her lectures have finished, she studies the list of Amanojuko agents given to her by Alexand. Helga Ritter is the only one on the list she has recognised, but she is becoming increasingly paranoid and suspects practically everyone.
Helga Ritter is introduced to Sister Ancille, who was present at the time of Eric Mehmed’s death. (Stay safe everyone. Keep inside if you can. This story is dedicated to all the key workers across the world, who are in the front line.)
Helga Ritter travelled to Kolkata, to the convent Eric Mehmed was reported to have died, to gather further information about who killed him. She knocks on the convent door, of the order of Handmaids of Mary, feeling an overwhelming repulsion.
Helga Ritter has conducted various tests on the body of Eric Mehmed, Alexand and Heyem Merek’s father, and has found something else.
Alexand brought Heyem back to her apartment in Hong Kong, along with a doctored writer, in case Helga Ritter returned. Heyem sits alone, watching herself in her bedside mirror, unable to feel safe in her own home. She has bolted her door and hasn’t been outside since Alex left.
