In the mystical Green Eagle pub, Nikolaus and Sir Savnok discuss recent political events in the heavenly and demonic realms:
Page 11 “Someone brought it to the court's attention that Caleb Lost abandoned his post without permission.”
“Mmm… he did it to save Harlan.”
“But he went against the Law! And someone has claimed that his actions also upset the Balance!”
“A debatable opinion. Even if Nergal… pardon me… If someone is very powerful, Caleb Lost will know how to defend himself.”
“I must confess that I don't dislike the blond guy, and I thought I should warn you, Nik.” (Caleb Lost has platinum blond hair and looks like David Bowie, though he is modeled on a medieval painting.)
“Do you, knight, also harbor the mistaken impression that I am friends with that arrogant platinum-haired man?”
“Whatever. Use my information as you see fit, Nik. The investigation will drag on for a long time, as always in these cases.”
“Maybe I'll take action… or maybe I won't do anything. It will depend on my mood… Do you have anything else for me, my precious, wormy colleague?” (Referring to the worms dripping from every crack in Savnok's armor)
“Who knows! I'll take another sip and then I'll tell you, Nikolaus.”
Page 12 A woman rolls her suitcase up a street toward the bookstore in which Harlan Draka discusses a rare book with Alfonso Saugrènes, a bibliophile who previously appeared in Dampyr #23, 41, and 50, and would later appear in 152 and 241 as well:
“Thank you, Harlan, for showing me this magnificent and rare volume.”
“I trust you, Saugrènes. But I cannot lend it to you, I'm sorry.”
“I understand. It's unique. It contains engravings that are not present in other editions of the Khevenhüller.”
“The book also possesses some extraordinary and rather dangerous properties. Not only does it deal with the past, but in a couple of instances, it has brought it back to life.”
“I can well believe it! I remember at least one other instance in which a book from this magical library overwhelmed me with its horrors. And if it hadn't been for you, my friend, I wouldn't be here now to bother you.”
“You can come whenever you want, Saugrènes. I appreciate your conversation and how you are not afraid of my eccentricities.”
This issue is unusually heavy in Dampyr lore and references to previous stories. Caleb Lost, one of the leaders of the Light Team, is Harlan Draka's most powerful ally. Caleb operates out of the Theatre of Lost Footsteps here on Kampa Island; indeed, he is forbidden by treaty from leaving it.
Nikolaus and Savnok are discussing the political fallout of Dampyr #64, in which Caleb broke that law, traveling to Krakow to assist Harlan against Duke Nergal, one of the leaders of the Dark Team and the chief of the Secret Police of Hell.
The sign in the upper right panel, Knihknupekti, is Czech for "bookstore." Obrazek is Czech for "image." The sign on door identifies Jan Obrazek as the bookstore's proprietor, but that is no longer true; he was possessed by an ancient spirit and then killed as part of one of Duke Nergal's schemes. Harlan poses as the manager of the bookstore, which appears in issues #12, 19, 23, 26, and 27.
The book which Saugrènes mentions here is Annalium Ferdinandeorum ("The Records of Ferdinand,") an enchanted book written by Franz Christoph Khevenhüller and given by Baron Singmund von Khevenhüller (1507-1558) to Harlan's father Draka as a reward for defeating Baron Gabor Vlatna, the antagonist of Dampyr #20 as well as the "Dracula Park" story in Dampyr Speciale #1. Harlan found Draka's copy of the book in Sarajevo and brought it to Prague.
In the final panel, Kavka the raven crows as he sees a woman looking through the shop window. Kavka was Jan Obrasek's pet, secretly was possessed by the spirit of Duke Nergal, who used the raven to spy on his enemies in Prague. Now Kavka serves Harlan instead. The famous Czech author Franz Kafka (1883-1924) was born in Prague. The Czech word kavka or kafka means "raven."
