Nell and Alisa were awakened from a deep sleep by a knock at the door. "Mrs. Parker, Miss Blankstone.  Szeged.  This is where you are getting off.  Szeged" said an authoritative voice from the corridor.  Nell noticed that the train had stopped.  Alisa glanced at her watch.  It read 3:10.

Carefully opening the door, Alisa saw that the night conductor was also knocking on more doors.  "Mr. Jarvis. Szeged,  Szeged"  he called.  "Mr. Madasheck, Mr. Boom.  Szeged.  We are at Szeged".

Alisa angrily told the conductor that there must be some mistake and she and her friends were traveling through to Athens.  The conductor said that there was no mistake.  He showed her his list of departures and there were the names of Alisa Blankstone, Nell Parker, Dan'l Boom, Rupert Madasheck, and Niles Jarvis.  The conductor urged her to get dressed and prepare to detrain.  "All your baggage has already been unloaded."

Rupert produced his ticket and showed it to the conductor.  It was clearly marked "Vienne-Budapest-Szeged", with nothing about travelling on to Athens.

Nell walked over to the carriage door and looked out.  There on the station platform she saw a massive stack of familiar baggage belonging to the group.  Standing nearby was a man in a black overcoat, scarf,  and homburg hat.  "Ah, Nell.  So good to see you at last.  And Alisa, too, if I'm not mistaken.  Dan'l, Rupert, Niles.  Come, come.  There is so much to see and learn."  The man turned and walked away into the darkness.

Dan'l rushed over to the carriage door, flung it open, and fired his revolver into the darkness.  Shocked, Rupert and Alisa dragged Dan'l back away from the door and told him to put away his revolver.  Dan'l was both angry and frightened that someone had called his name from the platform.

Alisa told the conductor in no uncertain terms that she was not getting off at Szeged and to order their baggage loaded back on the train.  The conductor told her that there would be a stiff surcharge for traveling on without a ticket but finally agreed.  After a delay of about 15 minutes, the train pulled out of Szeged, on its way south to Belgrade and Athens.

The group held a quick conference in the hallway.  What had happened?  Examining their tickets, all of them indicated a departure at Szeged.  Nell noted that the ticket stubs above the compartment doors also indicated that Szeged was their final destination.  Alisa was absolutely certain that she had purchased tickets through to Athens.  She commented that neither Brother Paul nor Sister Sarah had been included in the group getting off at Szeged.  Rupert was convinced that someone had made a substitution, perhaps at the station in Vienna.  He advised getting off the train at Belgrade the next morning to shake off any pursuers.  "Where is Szeged, anyway?"  asked Dan'l.  Nell showed him a map with its location - south of Budapest and north of the Yugoslav border.

The group then returned to their compartments and went back to sleep.