Patience knew they were leaving this night. She had to keep Ephraim distracted. He was worried about the trouble brewing up, but she also believed he was starting to come round to her way of thinking. She'd told Cook to pack a few things in a basket and Patience, herself, had dropped it off in Gus' shack, earlier in the day.

Now, she stood at the window of the library, waiting for Ephraim to come in from locking up for the night. As she gazed out at the night sky, she saw the lightening, then the thunderclap that followed made her jump. Rubbing her arms, she felt the very air was alive, tingling with unspent energy of the sulphurous clouds. Suddenly, she saw another strike hit, but it didn't stop. Looking more closely, she saw that the lights travelled up from the ground, up through the trees in the distance, as far away as the Miller farm it looked. As she watched, the light grew brighter and climbed higher. Weird patterns danced towards the sky, outlining the tree branches. She knew there was evil afoot this night and turned to look for Ephraim just as he walked in.

"Oh, Mr. Locke, I beg of you look out this window and tell me I am not hallucinating. It looks as though the whole world has been consumed in an inferno of dmanation. I fear we are about to be visited by the devil himself for our sins, sir!"

"Mrs. Locke, get ahold of yourself, let's see what nonsense you've taken a notion to," he said as he strode over to the window. Keeping his own emotions under check, he dare not let her see what fear broiled in his heart, for he now knew what Crump had been up to and he knew now was the time. They would either risk all to do as Patience's conscious said they must, and his as well, or they must continue the charade and he would have to join in the night terrors.

He walked back over to where Patience stood and put his arms around her. In a calm, cool voice, he said, "My dear, your god is an exacting one and I am afraid he is demanding payment this night. Now listen to me very carefully. You are to take the youngsters, Cook, and the rest of the house slaves and go down cellar as I've told you to do in the past in an emergency. You must stay there, my beloved, until I return."

"But, Ephraim! You cannot go out into this night, it is too dangerous!"

"No, my lovely, dearheart. I must see if there is anything we can do to help the Widow Miller and also alert the other of your converts. Oh, yes, my dear, you and your friends have been quite persuasive; there are a few of us who have begun to see the error of our ways."

"Ephraim, I love you, but I cannot let you go to the MIller's by yourself. I will tell Cook, now, to gather the children and make it a game for them to sleep below, this night. Give me just a moment to gather some things for Mrs. Miller and the baby and we shall go!" With that, she almost ran out of the room, her heart beating quickly, fearing he would follow her and forbid what she knew she must do.

Giving Cook instructions for the children, she also sent word to August and his family that murder rode the night and to godspeed with care.

Returning to the front hall, she found the door wide open, her husband astride his horse and holding the reins of her swift little mare. "Mrs. Locke," he said, "I am proud to have you at my side this evening. Stay low in your saddle and quiet." Pride and fear filled his voice as he handed her a loaded pistol. "Just point and shoot, darling, remember the practice when we were courting?" As he wheeled his horse and set off down the long drive, he flung over his shoulder, "I love you, Mrs. Locke!" and away they rode, into a night lit by eerie unnatural lights and sounds. Patience gripped with her knees, no gentlewoman riding for her this night, and held the reins with a sure grip. The little mare flared her nostrils, excited by the air and voices of her master and mistress, as well as that of the stallion taking the lead. Swiftly they broke into a smooth gallop, the miles quickly passing.