Picnic at Pelin ( A Horror Story ) Content . " Come on , Falinne , " I said . " It ' ll be fun . " " I don ' t know , Jacques , " Falinne replied , her gamine ' s face betraying embarrassment , unusual for her . " I just don ' t think — it doesn ' t sound like a good idea to me . " " What , going for a picnic ? It ' s Sovereignty Day , celebrating High Rock ' s independence from the First Empire . Everybody goes for a picnic on Sovereignty Day ! " " Yes , but not to Pelin Graveyard . And the weather isn ' t looking very good for a picnic — it ' s so gloomy . " She shivered . " Not to worry , " I said , leading the way past through the wrought - iron fences and into the great cemetery . " We ' ll have a roof over our heads . We ' re going to eat inside this old mausoleum here . " " Wh - what ? " Falinne said . " But this is the crypt of … . " " Of your namesake , Baroness Falinne Guimard , who commanded the troops of Bangkorai on Sovereignty Day ? The very same . " I smiled , bowed , and waved her in to the dark mausoleum . Falinne looked inside and gulped , then said , " All right , Jacques . You can ' t scare me . " And , hunching her head a bit into her shoulders , she ducked into the Baroness ' last resting place . I followed , unfolding the picnic blanket with a flourish . " Here we are ! No need to sit directly on the clammy , strangely - stained flagstones of the dark and dismal charnel vault . Comfort and elegance are my watchwords ! " " Very funny , Jacques . " She smiled gamely and folded her legs beneath her as I put the picnic basket in the center of the blanket . " So what did you bring ? " " Chef Artoine ' s deluxe picnic collation from the Anchor ' s Point inn ! A brace of rock pigeons , grilled and deboned , with combwort chutney , ballom pudding , and a jug of syllabub . Unless for pigeon … . " " … Less … egion … " a voice whispered from the back of the vault . " Er … an echo , by Mara ! Did — did you hear that , Falinne ? " " … Falinne … Aless … Legion … ! " came the whisper , louder this time . " I certainly heard that ! " Falinne said , leaping up . " Jacques , what kind of trick are you playing here ? " " Alessia n Legion ! Where ? " said the voice , quite distinctly . And before our widening eyes , a blue phantasm came drifting up from a steep and narrow stairwell . With a shriek , Falinne backed flat against the far wall and froze , seemingly paralyzed . I felt cold stones at my own back and realized I ' d done the same . The translucent blue phantasm , clad in armor of antique design , drifted between us , halted at the entrance , and turned . " This is the day , isn ' t it ? " she demanded in hollow tones . " The day of the attack ! " " Y - yes , Countess , " I said , surprised at my ability to speak . " Right d - day , but wrong century . " " What ? " She flew at me , spectral hands raised like claws . Somehow , I shrank even further into the wall . " What ? Not … again . " " That ' s right ! " Falinne piped up . " Wrong century , wrong year ! Go back to sleep , Grandmother . " " Wrong … year , " the spectre said slowly . " Back … to sleep . " And to our immense relief , the Countess ' ghost began drifting back down the stairs , fading as it went . " Gales of Kynareth ! " Falinne said , sinking to the floor . " I need a drink . You ? " " Oh , yes . At least one , " I said , as she poured the syllabub . " What ' s taking so long ? " " My hands are shaking . Here . " I drained the milk - and - cider to the dregs and passed the mug back for more . Then I took a deep breath and began , " Falinne , I ' m really , really sorry . I never thought … . " " Don ' t worry about it , " she said . " Here , have some more . Think what a great story it ' ll make back at the Anchor ' s Point . " " You ' re not angry ? Really ? " " No , Jacques . Not angry . " " Well then , let me carve the … huh , that ' s funny . " As I reached for the plate of pigeons , I felt a wave of cold pass over my body , and my hand fell short . " By Arkay , what … ? " I tried to stand , got as far as my knees and then fell over onto the blanket . " Falinne , something ' s … something ' s wrong . " " It ' s nothing , dearest , " she said , smiling sweetly . " I just drugged your syllabub with a paralyzing potion . " " D - drugged ? " I mumbled . " Why ? " " Because there ' s this really exclusive club I want to join . Namira ' s Forgotten ? But to be admitted , you have to consume human flesh . It ' s quite thrilling , Jacques ! " She drew a slender , razor - sharp blade from her bodice . " Now , let ' s see — where shall I begin ? "