Rodge,

I am sorry to ask you for this. I know that I’ve already exceeded the limits of Christian charity. You’ve taken me into your home, you’ve endured my quest born of madness, no, desperation. You corroborated my claim that Elle abandoned my siblings, left for Canada. You ignored the scream from the basement. You’ve rebuffed the doctor’s attempts to intercede. I am near the end of my efforts, God willing, and I need one last helping hand to pull me over the threshold.

I’d like you to hold a feast for summer solstice, like the Asters used to do. Don’t worry about preparing the food and setting the tables and all. I’ll take care of it. It’ll be good for you, really. I know you prefer going out hunting in the woods to entertaining guests in a suit, but you have a small fortune now from your fur trade escapades. That means something here; you’ll have authority you’ll need to manage. You’ll have to get used to it eventually.

I pray you don’t ask me to elaborate on why. I cannot tell you yet. I’m not sure if I could explain; this is far beyond the typical logistics of theology. For now, better that I bear this alone. I know it’s not right, but it’s been weeks now, I’m pushing at my mental limits, and I’ve seen nothing else that may work. You believe me, enough to tolerate my work here at least. This has to be done. If not, then we are left as chaff under the wheel of uncaring eternity.

Just trust me. You’ve always done it before, even when everybody else had written me off as suffering a bout of lunacy. Please, stay with me a little while longer.

Lam,

You know you’re my best friend, dammit [sic]. You taught me about everything that lives in these here woods. And you never wrote me off like my daddy did. You tell me you’re going to climb your way into hell, and I’ll pack you a water skein for the trip.

You’ve been down there for days though. Smells like an abbatoir. I’m not sure if your magic woman’s actually survived everything you’re doing there, but it feels like you’re dying down there too. You won’t even talk to me. You know damn well I don’t like reading if I don’t have to.

So, I’m gonna stick this under the dor [sic], and you’ll come up, and you can tell me what this big horrible thing you need to do to defeat her is. Need help with the doctor anyways. I think he thinks you have his missing slave down there as well.