The Chain of Dogs are one day east of the River P'atha. As Duiker walks through camp he is startled by an onrushing Wickan cattle-dog bearing a frightened lapdog in its mouth. The dog races past and the historian is soon accosted by a group of nobles looking for their rare Hengese roach dog. Duiker does not treat the issue with the gravity they think it deserves and one noble, Pullyk Alar, begins to threaten him with a beating. They are interrupted by Corporal List who has been sent to bring Duiker before Coltaine.