Fourth Interlude: Gwen, Under Attack

In 2015, Robin Fellows drives to Slaughterbridge after a viral Vine shows a man swallowing a goat while wearing Stu Finger’s old T-shirt. Under the bridge, she meets an old derelict, “Glen Schrödinger,” who taunts her, hints at Arthur’s death underground, and reveals tusked, shifting features. As he lunges, Robin defaults to Arthur’s instruction, blasting him with a Cree hi-thrower; the creature petrifies mid-leap and tumbles into the River Camel.

Shaken, Robin FaceTimes Gwen and recounts the attack and the claim that Colin killed Arthur. Colin, who has keylogged and monitored Gwen and Robin for years, watches their call recording days later, feeling exhilarated rather than threatened. Outside his window, Gwen plows his drive, masking suspicion.

Gwen, accompanied by the inner “ghost” of Arthur, weighs the troll’s accusation and resolves to seek proof. At Rackham’s library, she reexamines the group’s Enemies List and notices a Congolese lawyer they fed to Sorrow had also represented anti–child labor efforts that threatened cobalt suppliers tied to Dragontooth, Colin’s subsidiary—raising doubts about Colin’s filtered “intelligence.” Allie briefly checks on Gwen.

At the New Year selection meeting, Donna is hard-edged, Allie is gaunt, and Colin presides, unchanged and eager. Gwen hides her fear and watches Colin hand out folders while a newly locked Cabinet of Curiosities nags at her suspicions.

That night, King Sorrow pries open Gwen’s window and informs her that Colin has chosen her as this year’s sacrifice. Elsewhere, prison staff release an elderly Daphne Nighswander. With dead eyes and a chilling grin, she leaves vowing never to be taken alive again and intends to visit those connected to her late daughter.