They had been back for a week, when Fornby had finally made time to meet Brockmann. they were sitting in the bureau of the Englishman and watched from their large chesterfield seats over the night sky of Hamburg with the colors of a thousand lights in the harbor illuminating the city.

Fornby had gotten two cigars prepared for them and Brockmann was sure they were rare, expensive and exclusive. They actually tasted far better than the cheap ones he smoked sometime,s which he got from the small cigar shop in Altona. Brockmann was not here for cigars though.

„Looks like we made a new ally. That and you and Simon stopped the Wormking infection without any of you getting killed. I‘d say we book this as a win.“ Fornby said.

„Not sure we can trust Richard.“ Brockmann said.

„I said ally, not trustworthy.“ Fornby said. „You do not trust anyone. Except the boy.“ Fornby said. Brockmann looked at him and said nothing.

„I am concerned you push him too soon, too far.“ Fornby then added.

„He did great.“ Brockmann said.

„I hope you told him that.“ Fornby said and Brockmann gave him only a grunt. Fornby smiled.

„He needs to learn fast.“ Brockmann said. „I ...“ He paused and took a breath from the cigar. „My body failed me in Berlin.“ He finally said.

Fornby looked at him and nodded. „You are still healing from the encounter with the monster in Hamburg. You need to give yourself more time.“ The Englishman said.

„Yes, but even if I heal completely, how long does it take? I am not the man I was thirty years ago, Fornby.“ Brockmann said.

„I know. Nobody is.“ Fornby said and took a breath from his cigar.

„We need more people.“ Brockmann finally said what he had come to say. Fornby looked at him.

„There is nobody left. I looked everywhere.“ He said.

„Some of those guys are good at hiding.“ Brockann said.

„I am good at finding those, too.“ Fornby replied. Brockann nodded.

„I was not talking about the old ones. We need knew people.“ He finally said.

„You mean you want recruiters to train?“ Fornby said. Brockmann nodded.

„You talk about rebuilding the Nocturne Society, Brockmann. That took decades last time we did that.“ Fornby sighed.

„We will not have decades. Something is coming. I can feel it. It has been coming for a long time ands we were not there to see it.“ He put his cigar into the ash tray.

„I might know someone.“ Fornby replied.

„You do?“ Brockmann looked at Fornby.

„I have been in contact with her for a while. Bright young woman. Already trained well. Smart. Quick thinker. Good with tech.“ Fornby said.

„I already hate her.“ Brockmann said.

„Good.“ Fornby said then. „That is when you are best with people.“ He smiled at Brockmann. Brockmann only nodded and picked up the cigar again.

They sat there for a while and smoked in silence. Fornby broke it finally.

„You remember the Acapulco thing?“ He asked.

„The pocket stealing gnome of 1988? How could I forget that.“ Brockmann said.

„I was thinking the other day about him. that was one damned funny affair.“ Fornby said a chuckled slightly.

„You did not have to run after him for an hour.“ Brockmann said.

„No, I did not.“ Fornby said. „But those ears.“ Fornby laughed. Brockmann looked at him.

„Yeah, he had funny ears.“ Brockmann agreed and Fornby looked at him, as he saw his old colleague fight to smile. Fornby leaned back and looked out of the window.

„Yes, he did.“ He said and he knew Brockmann was right. Something was coming.