The chapter opens with a description of the pleasure door, the shadow door, and the reason door in Druaddle. It is six days after the events of the previous chapter, and Shmoop is still complaining about the fact that he is the only one to wear a mask for the trip to the Mist Town of Altzark, in the lugsuth region of the Russian Empire. He tells us that he and two companions have been searching for Rikhter and Carissa for six days, and that they have lost contact with their informants. They have contacted all branches of the jishouins in each country, asking for their help in locating the key to the door. The first clue they have found is that all contact with the informants has been lost on the border between the two countries. They believe that eintetta has allowed them to see the entrance to the town, flowing elegance "roudel" , as well as the two companions. They are confident that they will be able to find the key later that night or early the next morning. They also note that rats have been sniffing around for them in the western part of the tentera, and they wonder if the rats are still alive there. They wonder if big sister Carissa will be okay, and are pleased that they are able to work together so well. They say they have been watching over the door for many years, blending into the "normal diurnal folk" of the town. They feel they have already let their guides get way ahead of them, so they are going to take her to one of the other guides. They want to know if he can help them, and he says he will