I decide to take a quick walk through the streets of Blood. Dagfari wants to come with me, but I persaude him that I should go alone. "I won't be going far," I tell him, "and we can stay in touch through the mind-link. I'd like to have some idea what sort of range it has."

//Miles and miles,// he says, gloomily. Why, of all the vampiric houses in Sang Sacre, did I end up with a depressed one?

"I'll be okay," I say, firmly, snatch my glasses up from the table by the door, and hurry out.

The roads are busy, and I stop to put my specs on- only to discover that they aren't my regular pair, but the magical set which allow me to see past and future. Ooops.

//I told you something would go wrong,// Dagfari says in the back of my mind.

I tell him, politely, to go to hell.

//Am already, lady,// he replies, //Demon, remember?// Fortunately, he does shut up when I threaten him with being given back to Miracleman.

Little by little, I adjust the spells in the glasses so that they are focused on one second- things are a little blurry, but better than nothing. I find an alley- this town's well provided with them- and stand at the entrance, looking into the future.

Now, due to the trousers of time problem, there are multiple futures availible for viewing at any one time. Slowly, I scan through some of the things that could happen- and realise I don't like most of them. One features huge numbers of green jello monsters. Another involves six thousand escaped mole rats, some of whom (in the best tradition of Blood) are naked. Yet another sees the town being run by someone I can only identify as 'gothygirl', a front for the real power behind the throne, a demonic rabbit. I think that perhaps the future needs a little help recovering its positive side.

With determined strides, I set out for Miracleman's. Time for some pay back.

"Let's see...plant-controlling rockman. Curse-wielding, hitting-with-sticks English teacher. Me. Hector."

I sigh. "Not much of an army."

"What about ita?" Penny B. asks.

"No telling. She could be on our side, she could be on the bad guy's side. All depends on what the 'balance' requires.

"Plus I'm being sued by the makers of Jell-O. And litigation tends to make friends scarce."

I lean over the chasm on the doorstep and knock carefully. After all, if Miracleman doesn't answer I can just run away, and claim he wasn't in.

"Jumpin' Jupiter! What now?"

I open the door, staff raised and blazing light. But it's Am-Chau and, as far as I know, not necessarily here to destroy me.

"Oh. Hi. How's the house working out?"

"It's, err, undead as normal. Look, I'm here to offer to join your army, if you'll let me off the debt. I don't like the futures I'm seeing at all."

"Uh. Sure. What the hell."

I let her in and show her to the living room. Introductions are made.

"As for a plan for our 'army', well...I don't have one.

Does anyone know a good lawyer?"

As I know Hector a little already, I go and stand by him. Not the best choice, perhaps, but it seems better than sitting next to someone as dangerous as- what were the names?- Penny and Knut.

I give Am-Chau a little wave. She seems a bit nervous. I probably do, too. The "hitting with sticks" part of my credentials was mostly theoretical. I haven't so much as made a fist since I was a kid. Still, I have the InstaGolem, and my ability to curse. On the other hand, the InstaGolem were designed for amusement and heavy housecleaning, and I'm not sure what will happen in 23 hours when they biodegrade with all that evil jello inside.

My attention is caught by something whirling on Miracleman's wall.

"Um. Miracleman? What's up with the mirror?"

I hear a cry from the staircase. Hey, Aimee! She looks a little different, though.

"Don't look at it!"

Penny waves at me and I instictively strengthen my personal boundary spells, giving Hector a little electric-style shock in the process. It seems worth it, though- Miracleman said she specializes in curses, and who knows how she casts them?

"Sorry, Hector," I mutter, before starting to stare at the mirror.

//I have a bad feeling about this,// comments Dagfari.

I send a little shock to him, too. Last thing I need in my head right now is a house that thinks it's Marvin the Paranoid Android.

Look at this. I've received my first piece of mail. Hmm, let's see...

(Billytea, if this ends up with giant spiders running loose in Sang Sancre, I will be very, very cross with you. IJS ...)

I scratch my head. There's no return address. Maybe it's from the zoning commission? If so, I'm quite impressed with the personal touch. I wonder what the tax office here might be like? "We cordially invite you to the upcoming auction of your house."

Anyway. Giant spiders. I believe the major worry there would be the link to the Amazon, some bird-eating spiders can have a legspan of a foot or so, and a body length of 4 inches. Of course, the wandering spider, though not as large, is far more dangerous. Very aggressive, likes to hide in shoes and other dark spaces, and - obviously - tends to wander. And possibly the most venomous spider on earth.

Well, the letter doesn't actually specify keeping them out too, but maybe I'll double-check the barrier. Can't hurt to be sure. Though they turn up in America in banana shipments anyway; maybe a couple more won't matter?

...No, maybe not. I'd better check again. I think I'll set up a fruit bin on the Amazon side too.