Kani, agent of Rephidim Temple, has done research in an attempt to find the whereabouts of his fiance, Maza, who has gone missing for some time now. His search so far has led him to the Babelite Embassy to Rephidim, situated within the Old Cemetary of the Old City – where Maza was last seen attending a Harvest Tide party.

Kani spies upon the household, noting its defenses and some oddities … such as the work crew demolishing tombstones and monuments in an expanding area around the Embassy grounds. He realizes that he has been discovered by one of the Eeee guards, and gives up his position, changing disguises in order to question some of the workers – in this case, he strikes up a conversation with a dim-witted hammer-wielding Titanian, about to smash an ancient statue of an Aeonian. Kani questions the Titanian regarding any possible sightings of Maza, about a "ghost" who "likes to eat foxies", and about the mistress of the household. At last, Kani manages to scare the skittish Titanian, who seems to presume that the "foxie" must be a ghost!

Retreating, Kani continues his investigation … and plans his next course of action.