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Chapters (206)
  1. Praise for Maplecroft
  2. Title page
  3. Copyright page
  4. Contents
  5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  6. THESE ARE THE THINGS AN EARTHQUAKE BRINGS
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  12. A DOCTOR, A LAWYER, A MERCHANT, A CHIEF
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  20. Phillip Zollicoffer, Professor of Biology, Miskatonic University
  21. Lizzie Andrew Borden
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  26. BE SURE YOUR SINS WILL FIND YOU OUT
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  29. I CROSS THE MAGPIE, THE MAGPIE CROSSES ME
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  31. Nance O’Neil
  32. THIS KNOT I KNIT, THIS KNOT I TIE
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  37. AND IF YOU HAVE A HORSE WITH ONE WHITE LEG . . .
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  43. THE WORST IS TO BE JUDGED WITHOUT HOPE
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  46. Lizzie Andrew Borden
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  53. BUT NETTLE SHANT HAVE NOTHING
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  55. CUT THEM ON FRIDAY, YOU CUT THEM FOR SORROW
  56. Phillip Zollicoffer, Professor of Biology, Miskatonic University
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  62. HAPPY IS THE CORPSE THAT THE RAIN SHINES ON
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  67. A DWELLING PLACE OF JACKALS, THE DESOLATION FOREVER
  68. Lizzie Andrew Borden
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  71. Nance O’Neil
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  84. Emma L. Borden
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  88. Owen Seabury, M.D.
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  91. Lizzie Andrew Borden
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  93. RIGHT CHEEK, LEFT CHEEK—WHY DO YOU BURN?
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  101. Aaron B. Stewart, Fire Chief, Farthington, Mass.
  102. Emma L. Borden
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  104. Gerald Macintyre, Telegraph Clerk, Western Union
  105. Owen Seabury, M.D.
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  107. Physalia, Z. University I Was Not Now
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  109. DEPART, ALL ANIMALS WITHOUT BONES
  110. Emma L. Borden
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  115. Owen Seabury, M.D.
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  119. Lizzie Andrew Borden
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  130. Owen Seabury, M.D.
  131. Phillip Zollicoffer. Physalia Zollicoffris.
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  137. Christoff Dane, M.D., Ph.D., University of Rhode Island, Kingston
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  139. Emma L. Borden
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  144. Owen Seabury, M.D.
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  150. Emma L. Borden
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  153. FAMILY SLAIN IN MAYFIELD
  154. Owen Seabury, M.D.
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  165. Lizzie Andrew Borden
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  176. Emma L. Borden
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  186. Owen Seabury, M.D.
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  197. Lizzie Andrew Borden
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  205. Inspector Simon Wolf
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I had considered taking the morning to ride out and visit you in person, so that we might have this conversation over coffee or breakfast, but I pray you’ll understand why I’ve decided against it. My reasons are many and varied—not least of all because I have a sudden new wave of desperately ill people suffering from the condition, and to the last man, woman, and child, they seek my guidance. And besides that, what if it turns out Fall River is inadvertently incubating some terrible strain that might spread? I could not live with myself if I were to carry it with me, against my knowing, and pass it along to you or your students.

I realize that this must sound paranoid, but I ask you to trust me. I would also ask you to remain where you are, and to speak of this to no one. I do not wish to cause any panic. I only wish to contain the situation before it grows wholly out of control.

Ours is a little place, close-knit and quiet. Our people prefer their privacy, even in the face of danger. Please allow me to make some serious effort toward solving the crisis quietly, before we take the next obvious step and involve more public authorities.

I honestly believe that we can solve this problem. If I did not, I would’ve summoned higher assistance already.

To this end, I was hoping I could impose upon you for any literary works you may have on hand—any lesson plans, research notes, or the sort—that you could share with me. I have access to a very good laboratory, and there’s a chance I can generate a vaccine or treatment of my own if I could only learn what is required; but I do not know how many days that is likely to take, and we seem to be short even on hours. So if there’s any chance you have any serums already made, I would beg of you to send whatever you can spare with all haste.

It’s a peculiar request, I know—and I’m giving you few enough details that you must wonder at my sanity. You could absolutely be forgiven for doing so! I’m exhausted and frightened, and overwhelmed, if you want the truth. I fear that I’m standing on the brink of some tipping point, between this town and wholesale peril . . . and it terrifies me to feel such responsibility.

But I know what I’m looking at. The connections between the affliction are clear—there are very sharp parallels between what I’m seeing, and an advanced strain of tetanus, so I have been shown a direction and a pattern, and I will extrapolate the rest with cunning and science.

(It is not my imagination that leads me to this conclusion; it is research and observation, and consultation with another great scientist who lives quietly here in town.)