Dustfinger and Farid observe Capricorn’s village from their nearby hiding place. Dustfinger has returned to retrieve the final copy of Inkheart. He reveals that he has a friend in Capricorn’s household who can help him. He tries to dissuade Farid from following him when he goes. They spot a truck arriving with two goats, and Dustfinger comments that the farmer who gave them up was smart; if he’d resisted, Capricorn’s men would have left a threatening note or a dead rooster. Farid asks what the rooster means, and Dustfinger explains that “[t]he red rooster means fire” (312), a warning that they would burn the stubborn farmer’s home or crops.

Farid insists on going with Dustfinger and asks about his friend. Dustfinger explains he’s going to meet “[o]ne of Capricorn’s maids” (313), and Farid asks if it’s the woman Dustfinger has a photo of. Dustfinger threatens to have Gwin bite Farid if he goes through his things again, and they realize they haven’t seen Gwin in a while. Dustfinger, knowing that Farid is deathly afraid of ghosts due to his story, finally relents and agrees to take Farid with him. Privately, he wonders why Farid came with him instead of staying with Mo and wishes he knew how to make Farid stay away.