Mr. Freestone,

I’ve received nine different letters at my ‘retirement’ address asking me to validate you as my successor, and three asking for your immediate expulsion. None of them mention any medical blunder on your part, merely social inadequacies from you and common xenophobia from them. I’ve also heard of a number of preemptive attacks on you by the townsfolk. So as to move past this, I will include a signed and notarized statement declaring you my successor and the town’s official doctor. I will also mail the same to the mayor and the reverend, though I recommend you keep yours handy in case they ‘misplace’ theirs. That should remove any legal barriers to your practice, and help a bit with the social barriers. I hope that suffices, because there’s little else I can do at this point.

We’ll shortly be too far away to respond to a cry for help anyways. Specimens #4, #7, #11 and #13 have been deemed stable enough to survive sea transport. We’ll be off to the Mediterranean within a fortnight to meet with the Behemoth. I’ll admit to a bit of nervousness. This is more your world than mine. But this expedition could lead to information that may revolutionize healing. And, excuse my rudeness, but someone has to make sure this endeavor is properly documented and stays under budget, and it won’t be your father.

For your benefit, I went through the trouble of climbing down to his lab to see if he also wanted to send a letter. He instead wrapped up twelve whalebone knives with detailed notes on lobe consideration when dissecting a brain. I cannot ascertain whether this is meaningful to you or another of his social faux pas, but I have dutifully included them in my delivery. He’s been a bit obsessed with the specimens as of late. Understandable, given that the next month or so will be hard on them, but it is disconcerting when he coos to them. They can’t even hear it; they haven’t developed ears yet, and won’t any time soon.

That will have to suffice. I still need to prepare the ship and inoculate the drudges against anything we might encounter. Mind you, your father theorizes that any diseases we encounter will be easier to defend against with a sturdy stick and a commanding voice, but regulations are regulations. Take care around the townsfolk. Henshaw was mine for 20-odd years and the people hiding from you and trying to oust you used to be my neighbors. Some of them were friends. But they will not agree with your goals - well, our goals now - and they will not agree with what you are. I trust your ethics; do what you must to find her.

Incorrect thinking is a disease in its own right. Cure it like you would anything else.