Chapter 54
Summary
The stone pillar begins to rupture as more blood is pumped into it. Speedwagon is in distress, but Stroheim assures him that the the room the pillar is in is impenetrable, from the inside and out. Moments later, the pillar bursts into a pool of blood and a mysterious figure crashes onto the floor below. After ordering a rinsing of the blood, Stroheim decides to name the being from the pillar "Santana", after the Northern Mexican Winds "Santa Ana".
Santana attempts to situate itself off the ground by standing up, but ends up falling on its face. Stroheim finds this comedic and begins to laugh hysterically. To experiment with Santana's true nature, the Germans release a starving slave-turned-vampire into the room, and as the vampire attacks Santana, it ends up being absorbed. They discover that the stone mask is a method of creating a food source for the pillarman.
