[1] The novella is set in London and introduces street urchin Smiff, policeman Anders, and a young Anna Fang.

Meanwhile, constable Pym searches the records for similar incidents and finds reports about accidents that have occurred within a fortnight where the right hand has been removed and concludes that they were murders by the same killer.

Anders and Nutter return to the police station where Anna Fang explains that she has been following the stalker called The Collector who she wants to recruit to the Anti-tractionist cause.

When asked why she feels The Collector wouldn't just attack her she talks about Shrike, another stalker who is a bounty hunter who refuses to harm children (like her).

Smiff had followed Anders and throws a tin and shouts explosive, scattering the engineers, which gives the group time to find cover.