Tanrian marshal Hart Ralston walks into Birdsall & Son undertakers in the town of Eternity with a body to be processed. He finds the cheerful decorations of the lobby in poor taste, believing the somber, austere look of Cunningham’s Funeral Services to be more professional. He greets Leonard, a half-boxer dog sitting in the lobby, just before the dog’s owner, Mercy Birdsall, enters the room. The moment she sees Hart, she deflates, and they insult each other in a well-worn ritual of mutual dislike. Hart is embarrassed by the fact that he keeps bringing his business to Birdsall & Son simply because he likes Mercy’s dog.

Mercy and Hart trade insults as they discuss business; Hart has the unidentified body of an indigent person. Mercy’s family undertaking business has a license to process the bodies of indigent people and give them proper rites in exchange for a government stipend. Hart delivers the body and leaves, feeling angry and hurt. He believes that Mercy loathes him because he is a demigod.

Hart returns to West Station, where his boss and former partner, Chief Alma Maguire, waits for him. She reminds him that he needs a new partner, but he resists this idea.