Slash and burn...

I'm going through BA-4 cutting chit-chat over nothing. I had a long bit where Léon and Gregory discuss how to make their business better by using rail to Calais instead of Marseilles...and it added nothing to story except a vague bit of history.

Seems Marseilles was a hotbed of Republican fervor who were anti-Prussia and also anti-Napolean III. Nice to know, but so what? There went more than 500 words.

I'm up to the point where Léon is heading for Korea, via the Suez route. Gabrielle is en route there. to waylay a young American naval officer, who has the same blood as them. If that happens, any deal with her about Franz is off the table. Meaning Léon will not be able to trade for Dmitriy, whom he very much wants as his mate.

But even though the Oyim have forbidden any vampire to turn one of their victims without their permission, she intends to do whatever she damn well wants and dares them to punish her. She knows if she turns that officer into a fellow Blood Angel, the Oyim can do nothing to control her.

Overall, I'm trying to pump up the drive of the story, instead of letting it meander about in the fields of history. And also make sure my timeline is correct with historical facts. Can't be too ignorant of reality.

Unless I mean to...