Chapter 19 Summary

Dilnavaz must finish her sorcery while Gustad is away. She collects the lizard and summons Tehmul, who expects his daily limejuice. Miss Kutpitia has something for him instead, Dilnavaz promises, and he sets off grinning. The old lady hurries them through the outer door, and then unlocks an inner door no one has seen. The dimly lit room is shrouded in cobwebs and dust. Dilnavaz realizes that this was nephew Farad's bedroom, left untouched after his fatal car accident 35 years ago. Everything was as Farad left it. The adjoining room is open too, the law office of Farad's father, likewise enshrouded in webs and dust.

Miss Kutpitia pulls out the lizard and kills it on Farad's desk. She snips off two inches of wriggling tail. Dilnavaz blanches. Tehmul is fascinated. She inserts the tail into a wick holder, dips it in oil, and...