Willow visits Gutenburg, a city in Chronotopia. She spots a suspicious-looking Korv, and follows her back to the docks, where the crow boards the Bloody Shekel – the pirate ship that Willow was on as "Chiri" many years ago. Willow seeks out the local authorities, and finds Commissar Brueggel, and convinces him that the pirate ship poses a threat. The Luftwittern air soldiers try to intercept the airship as it departs, but it explodes. Willow is suspicious of this apparent suicide, and looks about for alternative explanations while everyone is distracted by the catastrophe. Her suspicions are confirmed, as she discovers that the pirates are hijacking a steam-engine train bound for Blitzheim.

Willow, Commissar Brueggel and a couple of Cervani guards board the back of the train and fight the pirates on board. Willow works her way up toward the engine, and poses as a member of the Bloody Shekel's crew in order to trick Captain Weatherwax – the leader – onto the top of one of the train cars. There, they battle, and both of the rats end up falling off of the train, into a ravine … though Willow's trajectory smashes her into the cliff face and onto a ledge, while Weatherwax meets his fate far below.

Willow comes out of the ordeal alive … but with a broken left arm and a broken right foot, and several other wounds as mementos.