Part III, Chapter 16 Summary

After cajoling and finally dragging her off with him, Robert has brought Ruth back to the house. She seems terrified of him; she has cried and repeatedly begged him not to kill her. Now she is sleeping in his room and Ben wonders if she is infected; the dog, he recalls, had been in the sunlight even after he became infected, and some vampires looked normal but weren't. He regrets that their relationship has begun on a note of distrust, but he doesn't think he has a choice.

As Ruth sleeps, Robert notes she is wearing a tiny gold cross. Later, he learns she is from Inglewood, her husband has died a week ago, and she has been wandering ever since. Robert has learned that vampires are allergic to the odor of garlic; injecting the oil into their veins...