[William Dougal 02] • Waiting for the end of the world

The story opens with the lunatic fringe: a public meeting being addressed by an apostle of apocalyptic doom. But Dougal soon realizes that it's his own doom that may be at hand. He decides not to get involved in another of Hanbury's dangerous plots, but when Zelda, the ravishing black girl who trustingly turns up on his doorstep, is kidnapped by Hanbury, what can Dougal do but follow in hot pursuit?

At least he has a trustworthy aide, the conscienceless Malcolm, and together they plan to take Elmny Castle by storm—Elmny being where Zelda is imprisoned. But of course it is not as simple as that. Dougal finds that, after all, he is becoming implicated in Hanbury's nefarious projects: gunrunning, drug smuggling, and other shady pursuits. He also has to cope with the devious Dr. Vertag, and with ancient and batty Lady Graver and her ineffectual son Thomas, the owners of the castle. And then it becomes clear that Zelda isn't just what she seems, although Dougal could forgive her anything.