“Ah, yes, my beloved old friend Raymond Gallant did help me,” said Marius. “He gave his whole life to you and he died without ever knowing who founded his Order, he died without ever knowing who or what we were.”

“Well, he might have died without that knowledge,” said Teskhamen. “But he is with us now. He has been with us since the night he died. I was there when his spirit hovered, remained in the Motherhouse. I saw it when those gathered around his deathbed could not see it. And he is indeed one of us now. He is anchored in the physical now as surely as my Hesketh, and there are other ghosts with us as well.”

“I knew it,” said Daniel softly. “Of course. You would have gathered other ghosts like Hesketh over the years.”

Marius was astonished. He was almost moved to tears.

“Oh, yes, Marius, you will see your beloved Raymond again, I assure you,” said Teskhamen. “You will see all of us—and there are indeed many others—and it is not our wish that the blood drinkers of this world be extinguished. It’s never been. But allow us our old caution, our old passivity, even now.”

“I understand,” said Marius. “You want us to come together as a tribe, the very same thing that Benji wants. You want us to do the very best that we can in the face of this challenge—without your intervention.”

“You’re a splendid being, Marius,” said Teskhamen. “Never have you ever bowed the knee to any fancy, fantasy, or superstition. The others need you now. And this Amel, he knows you, and you know him perhaps better than you think. I was made by the Mother. I have that direct and pure primal blood. But you have even more of it than I was ever given. And this Voice, if he is to be understood, controlled, educated, whatever is to happen, you must surely play a role.”

Teskhamen started to rise, but Marius still held his hand.

“And where will you go now, Teskhamen?” he asked.

“We must come together ourselves before we meet with you and your kindred,” Teskhamen answered. “Believe me, we will eventually come to you. I’m certain of it. Gremt wants to help. I am certain that this is what Gremt wants. I will see you very soon again.”

“You give my love to my precious Raymond,” Marius said.

“He knows you love him, Marius,” said Teskhamen. “Many times he’s watched over you, been near you, seen your pain, and wanted to intervene. But he is loyal to us and our slow and wary ways. He is Talamasca as he was when he was living. You know our old motto: ‘We watch and we are always here.’ ”

It was now an hour before sunrise.