The Contour

At 6 PM, the group went forth from the Hotel Mossop for guising. Alexander knew not what it was, but still he accompanied everyone, as did Roxana, Cnut and Emma. There was many a child going forth, visiting shops and neighbours to be rewarded with nuts and candies for their rhymes and songs.

So, this was guising. A strange thing, a coloured front, a tomfool wig or whatever it might be and children were given what they considered to be goodies? This was something that was done on this day that was called Halloween?

The guising went on for an hour and as the group began to return to the Hotel Mossop as eventide appeared, Alexander stopped in his tracks when he saw a contour upon a barrier, somewhat familiar and yet at the same time unfamiliar. It resembled Herr von Fell's contour, even including the mustache that was said to have been stolen from Kaiser Wilhelm II, but there was something different: there was a spike on top of the head.

A veteran of the Franco-Prussian War whom continued to wear his uniform so many decades later, Herr von Fell wore his pickelhaube, the spiked-helmet of the German host, only when taking part in big game hunting, a cruel pastime. Alexander had seen Herr von Fell, but he had yet to see the pickelhaube, thus he knew not what it was. As for Alan, Gemma and the rest who had seen the photograph of Herr von Fell in the newspaper and magazines, seeing that contour caused their ichor to turn cold. To Hippolyta, the students and the two redheaded adolescents, the sight of the counter was something that was not at all agreeable.

Quickly, Alexander looked to his mate Roxana. Her ears were fully erect and soon Alexander heard it as well: the sound of bagpipes playing in the distance.