At Abberline’s house:

*After an hour, Abberline and Raven are at Bournemouth house, Abberline fumbling with the lock in darkness for a while because the door lamp is missing.  Finally he opens the door and lets Raven in.  He lays the shopping bag on a chair by the door, flings his jacket on top of it and puts the lights on.  Raven stops and stares around him with wide eyes.  The living room is so very different from Manouche's house.  There's a small fireplace with no ashes, like it never has been used, a dark brown leather sofa, two armchairs, a coffee table and bookshelves filled with books and magazines and stacks of paper.  There are no pictures on the walls, and the only decorations are an old phonograph on the shelf, a gold watch beside the phonograph and a carved walking stick that is resting against the wall by the fireplace.  In a corner lies an abandoned dog basket.  The coffee table is laden with filled ashtrays, unread newspapers, opened books turned upside down, empty glasses and some bright postcards with tropical palms swaying in the sun.  A thin layer of dust has settled on all surfaces.  Abberline frowns at the scene and clears his throat, looking cautiously at Raven's solemn expression.*

Abberline:  If you don't want to stay, we can go back to the factory.

Raven *looks around a moment, then looks up at Abberline*  I don’t mind, Father, wherever you want to be.  *glances around again*  It’s … it’s a nice house.  If we leave, it’ll keep looking like no one cares about it.  If we stay, we can change that.  *smiles*  Do you have any wood for the fireplace?

Abberline:  Good.  I know this isn't a nice house.  This is just a house.  You don't have to like it.  *smiles back at Raven*  You always know what to say, don't you.  So we'll stay.  I think you may find some wood piled near the back door.  I'll unpack the shoppings in the meanwhile.  *He takes the shopping bag to the kitchen and starts unpacking the bag.  Potato chips.  Wonka Chocolate.  Cocoa.  Wonka candies.  More chocolate.  Ice cream.  And to his surprise, bread and cheese.  Since he was not sure what was need for supper, he let Raven do the shopping.*

*He picks the glasses and ashtrays from the table, takes the books and papers and shoves them on the shelf, then goes to the bathroom to wash his hands.  His half empty bottle is on the end table, together with an ornate silver absinthe spoon.  A glass lies on the floor, its contents spilled on the floorboards and dried to a sticky greenish stain.*

*He goes back to the kitchen and picks two mugs from the cupboard, one for Raven's cocoa and one for his coffee.  But there is no milk for the cocoa, so he settles for tea for them both.  By the time he takes a full laden tray to the living room, Raven is already piling wood in the fireplace to build up a fire.  Abberline goes after his jacket to fetch matches, finds the picture Raven drew of him and realizes that the photo is gone.*

Abberline:  Here.  *reaching over the matches to Raven*  Can you do it on your own?

Raven *nods*  Sure, I can build a fire in the woods, even without matches.  True Dreamer taught me.  *he lights a match and soon has a fine fire going.  Turns, looks around the room, smiles*  It looks better already.  *comes over to where Abberline has set the tray of food, takes a piece of bread, puts some cheese with it, bites into it, suddenly realizing how hungry he is.  He pauses, looks at Abberline.*  Don’t worry about the picture, Father, it’s safe.  Malachi has it.  He’s just forgot.  *grabs a piece of chocolate to go with his bread and cheese, eating one, then the other.*

Abberline *startled* I should have remembered that you know everything.  Maybe it would be time to lose it ...  *lights a cigarette, looks at Raven eating*  You are right, this room looks much better already.  It looks almost like a living room.  You have to tell me all about True Dreamer.  She has taught you well ... I am glad that you had her.  *Smokes for a while*  But still I wish I had known.  *getting up*  Look, I'll find you a blanket.  There is a spare bedroom upstairs, but it has been used as an 'abandoned warehouse' as Sergeant Godley said.  It's much more comfortable here.  You can tell me about True Dreamer; I don't know any fairy tales, and I don't have any books that would interest you.

Raven *nods, watches him go, grabs another piece of chocolate.  Stands, starts wandering around, looking at various items, books, newspapers.  Picks up gold watch, holds it to his ear, realizes it’s not running, sets it back down.  Enters bathroom, sees absinthe bottle and silver spoon.  Opens bottle, sniffs, wrinkles his nose; it reminds him of the rum Manouche let him try when Nate and Marchand were holding them captive.  Sets bottle back down, examines spoon with interest.  Sees glass on the floor, picks it up, feels a vision coming on – sees Abberline’s memories, happier ones, of his wife in the early stages of her pregnancy … then darkness, something he can’t quite make out.  In his mind’s eye, a shadowy form seems to leap at him; he gasps, drops the glass, it shatters.  The sound jolts him back to the present, and seems much louder to him than it is.  He looks toward the door, but Abberline is still somewhere else in the house and hasn’t heard.  He finds a magazine on the floor, manages to sweep up the broken glass, throws it into a wastebasket.  Starts to turn away, then glances in the wastebasket, sees a piece of paper with Abberline’s handwriting.  Picks it up, sees that it was torn from a book.  Reads it, realizes it’s from a journal; feels deeps sorrow as he reads the entry, which is full of self-blame and misery, though he doesn’t fully understand why.  Hears Abberline coming back, quickly throws the page back into the wastebasket, runs back into living room just before Abberline enters, carrying a couple of blankets and pillows.  Picks up tea, drinks it, watching Abberline, his eyes large and solemn.*

Raven:  I … I wish you had known, too.  *picks up other mug of tea, holds it up to Abberline*  I’ll tell you all about True Dreamer.  You would've liked her.

At Portsmith’s office:

Portsmith *grabs Corso by the arm and drags him to the office*  No, wait, I need you here.  Let's go and meet the Order.  *tries to straighten and brush her uniform*

Mr. Black:  Good evening, Commander.  We were already anxious that you wouldn't show up at all.  *casts a piercing look at Corso*

Portsmith:  You should have made an appointment.  *sits by her desk*

Mr. Brown:  As you know, we came for the payment.

Portsmith:  I don't remember any special date in the deal.  You can return tomorrow to talk about the payment.  This office is closed.  I don't do overtime.

Corso *horrified at her insolence towards the Order*  But it could be arranged ...

Portsmith *interrupting him*  Yes, very good.  Arrange a meeting.  For tomorrow.  Goodnight, gentlemen.

*Mr. Black and Mr. Brown stare at her for a long while; but as she shows no signs of wavering, they rise*  Very well, Commander.  You have got time until tomorrow.

Portsmith *closing the door after them*  Blimey, they were frightening.  Now what are we going to do with the payment?  I did not like their attitude.  If they go on like that, they will leave without their payment.  *frowns, thinks of the ceremonial robes and the fancy Order membership card*  No, I'll find out
something tomorrow. 

Corso:  I hope you do, Commander.  Or else we're lost.

At Abberline’s house:

Abberline *takes the mug.  He takes his small brandy bottle and pours some into his tea*  Sorry.  This is a bad habit, but it helps me sleep better.  True Dreamer must have been a wonderful woman ...  From what I know she took very good care of you.  Was she a relative of your mo...  of Kat?  You don't know much about your family, do you?

Raven *shakes his head*  I guess I don’t.  True Dreamer … she was a friend of Mother’s.  Mother wanted her to take care of me, because … True Dreamer said it was because Mother had a broken spirit.  She taught me all about how to live in the wild, an’ she taught me about the spirit world … an’ she taught me how to appreciate my gifts … the way I could see things, an’ know things an’ not know how.  We lived near a village, where the people knew we were different, but they didn’t hate us … we just lived apart.  I never met people who hated us until we had to go into towns to buy things.  Then I would hate my gifts, and wish I didn’t have 'em, but True Dreamer said I should never do that … she said it was like hating any of the other senses we’re blessed with.  I always wanted to be like her, she never got mad at those people, even when they threw things at us and called us names.  She was beautiful.  I used to say I was going to marry her when I became a brave, an’ she would laugh an’ say I would find a much prettier girl, but I told her no I wouldn’t.  An’ then … *pauses, eyes fill with tears, swallows to control quivering voice*  … Nate killed her … an’ he took me away … an’ then Manouche was there, an’ she says I saved her.  But I thought she saved me.  M-maybe we saved each other.  I can share visions with Manouche … she’s the only one besides T-True Dreamer who I … who I can …  *lowers head for a moment, looks up, eyes red*  F-Father, I don't want to forget her, but it hurts to remember her.  Does it always have to be like that?

Abberline *restraining himself with an effort*  That is just the way it is, Raven.  I wish I could say something more comforting to you, but I can't.  That's how it is when you lose someone.  It never stops hurting, but in time you will learn to live with it.  And remember the good times.  That's what Sergeant Godley says.  You will have her still with you always, and you have Manouche.  And we will together see that nothing bad happens to her.  You are the brave, Raven.  *feels that he's been more depressing that consoling to Raven, but he doesn't come up with anything, trying to find words; he gets an idea*  But nobody has to be brave all the time.  *takes Raven's hand, rises from the sofa*  Come, I want to show you something.  *Together they ascend the stairs and go to the spare bedroom filled with sealed cardboard boxes, Abberline looks for a while and finally finds one box he opens, pulls out a soft, small teddy bear*  This was given to me by Godley when he heard about us, that Victoria ... was expecting ...  He gave it for my son.  He did never get it ...  *frowns, lights a cig, inhales deeply; after a longish pause is able to go on*  He said that every kid needs a teddy bear; when everything else fails, it will always be there ...  So I give it to you.  *Raven takes it without a word and clutches it tight*  And now, we are going back downstairs, and you will tell me how True Dreamer learned you to hunt, and light a fire without matches.  You will remember the carefree time you spent with her ... and in time, you will find someone like her to marry, and you will give me a dozen grandchildren.  *smiles*  Maybe it doesn't always have to be like that.  Maybe even broken spirits can be healed.