Half-Blood Blues

In 1939 Chip, Sid, and Hiero spend their first night in Paris in the car, then eat breakfast at a café. Using the café telephone, Chip calls the number Delilah gave them while in Berlin, then returns, saying that they are to stay put. As they wander through the city, Delilah suddenly appears, much to the surprise of Sid, who feared she was captured by the Nazis or even dead. She hugs Chip and Hiero but greets Sid shyly.

Delilah leads them to the hotel where Armstrong is staying and tells them that he is ill but wants to see them. She also reveals that France declared war on Germany the day before. Following Delilah’s introductions, a bedridden Armstrong greets the three of them in turn. At Delilah’s bidding, he asks Chip what his middle name is, and Chip reluctantly reveals it to be Chippewah. Armstrong then addresses Hiero with keen interest, with Sid translating Armstrong’s words into German. They plan to play together soon, and Armstrong offers to let Hiero use his old trumpet, since Hiero left his in Berlin.

Sid, Chip, and Hiero move into Delilah’s apartment. Talking to Delilah, Sid learns that she traveled back to Paris through regular means, and that Hiero knew she had return tickets.