The Eternal Vigilance, a motorized airship, waits off the coast of Ur while passengers and cargo are moved over to an ocean-crossing airship known as the Saint Henry Canaan, for the trek eastward to Rephidim. Elijah bids farewell to Inri, Pouncer, Shade and Vague, as they head off to the other craft, while he remains on board the Vigilance, for its southward journey on a mission to the southernmost reaches of Sinai, to the Sanctuary of Ice.

During the journey, the ship encounters a crippled vessel letting out a distress signal via lantern and mirror. Rather than have the whole ship fly closer, Elijah flies in himself, and at first it appears that it's genuinely a crippled ship. However, one of the "dead" bats in the rigging calls out to Elijah and warns him that it's a trap – the ship's crew has been killed, and now they are all zombies. Elijah descends on the deck nonetheless, carving a holy symbol on the planks to temporarily ward them, as he checks on the bat who gave him the warning. The bat turns out to be alive, but greatly wounded, and he carries the sole survivor back to the Vigilance, with zombie bats in pursuit.

The crew of the Vigilance opens fire on the pursuing undead fliers, and then on the cursed airship itself, defeating the zombies. Elijah then questions the bat, and finds the story he's given to be lacking. He furthermore discovers – thanks to the captain's nose, and to the bat's consternation – that it's a she rather than a he that he's addressing. The bat then claims to be a Babelite spy. Elijah has the bat tended to, then takes her down to get her bathed, letting her make use of his cabin and his bed, while he takes the floor. He learns that her true name is Sukara, and that she is a Yodhsunala – Daughter of Sunala, a servant of the Death Goddess, Sunala. He also learns of the arrival of the "Avatar of Inala", and her identity as Envoy. (This news displeases the Vartan.)