Albert slumped to the floor. His body shook uncontrollably. He tried to focus, but found it impossible. The events of the previous twenty minutes replayed in his mind over and over. A pervading sense of doom encompassed him.

Albert weighed his options. His bluff to the Beast had bought him some time, but he believed what the creature told him, that it would find him no matter where he fled. He briefly considered recovering the sword and facing the monster in a duel, but remembered his failed attempt at wielding the weapon.

When his senses slowly returned, Albert became ashamed of his confusion and urge to flee.

It's not just me, he thought, that thing is going to kill everything in its path.

Suddenly he remembered the Beast's threat about seeking revenge against the Travelers. He dug his phone out of his pants and called Ethelinda. She picked up on the first ring.

"Ethy," he said desperately, "I've seen the monster!"

There was a moment of silence before she answered, "Are you being serious? What is it? Did it attack you?"

"It killed Doc Crosby....," he was nearly in tears, reliving the events yet again in his mind, "You have to call your grandmother, it's going after the Travelers!"

"What!? Why?" Ethelinda asked in shock.

"The story Rosamund told us was true, this thing is the same creature Esmerelda fought. It wants revenge. You have to call her and convince her I'm telling the truth. The thing is on foot, it won't get there for a couple of hours."

"Oh my god! Should we call the police?"

"I'm afraid the police won't be able to stop it. They'll be mowed down. Only the sword can kill it."

"How do you know that? They can shoot it."

"I have it on good authority."

"What authority?" Ethy asked.

"I'll explain later, right now we need to get the Travelers out of the colony," Albert was pleading by now, "please, please believe me!"

"Okay, Albert, calm down. I'll call right now."

"Good, good..." Albert repeated, "call me back right away and let me know how it went."

"I will, Albert," Ethy assured him before hanging up.

The conversation with Ethelinda, agitated though it was, helped Albert calm down and begin thinking clearly again. He walked back into the waiting room and sat down on the sofa. He went over every detail of what had just happened, what Jacob had told him, and the story Rosamund had shared.

The germ of a plan began to grow in his mind. It seemed fairly insane at first, but just knowing he might have a strategy, however ridiculous, further quelled the panic he had felt.

This is a really dumb idea, he thought, but it's the only one I've got.

Even as he mulled the details in his mind, the phone rang and he answered. It was Ethelinda.

"Did you get hold of your grandmother?" He asked.

"I did, I told her what you told me."

"And?"

"And she believed every word. She said she would speak to the other Traveler families and just hung up. She called back a bit later and said it was all set."

"Just like that?"

"I told you she is well-respected in the colony. She pretty much has final say in all the big decisions. They are firing up their trailers and vehicles as we speak. She said they'll head south to one of the Florida communities for a week or two till it's safe to come back."

"That's great, what a relief! I can't believe she just accepted what I said and got them moving. She is really something."

Ethelinda laughed, "She is, she said it was no big deal because that's what we do, 'Travelers travel', she said. How about you Albert? What are you going to do?"

"I sort of have an idea. I need you to get some things from my house and bring them to me here at the medical park, can you do that?"

"Sure, you mean the sword?"

"Among other things. I have another call to make right now. Here's what I need you to bring me," Albert gave Ethelinda his list and after he hung up, he took a deep breath and dialed the number Jacob had given him.

The Angel answered after the second ring, "It didn't take you long to call."

"I've met the monster."

"You have?" There was surprise in Jacob's voice, "And you're still alive? Good on you, what happened?"

"I challenged him to a duel tomorrow."

"You what?" The Angel chuckled, "Well, you've certainly grown some balls since yesterday. You do realize that you don't stand a chance."

"Yeah, I'm aware," Albert became a bit annoyed, "You said you'd help if you could, were you telling the truth?"

"Of course, I'm an Angel, it's in the job description. I don't know what I can do, I'm less of a fighter than you are."

"You will help me though, if you can...right?"

It was the Angel's turn to be annoyed. "What exactly do you want from me Albert?"

"First off I'd like you to come here to the medical park as soon as possible. I'll explain when you get here."

"Very well, I have to admit that I'm curious," Jacob paused, "Where is the demon now?"

"It's on a wild Gypsy chase."

"What?"

"I'll tell you when you get here....see you soon." Albert ended the call. Now he would wait. He searched the dentist's office and found a nice bottle of single malt scotch. He poured himself a double and downed it quickly. He didn't think Doc Crosby would mind.