Gary remembered this man. Even with the mask on, that young, steady voice was unforgettable. It carried a strength that defied fear, making anyone who heard him believe what he said.
A few days after Gary had gone to the Academy for help and come away empty-handed, the young doctor named Kraft had unexpectedly appeared in person in the Salt Tide District—a place no sane person would go. Then he had gone from door to door, claiming he wanted to help them repair two wells and put an end to the drowsiness caused by the poisoned water.
"Hello. If I remember correctly, your name is Gary, right?"
The bird-headed man held a long, rectangular wooden board. A clip of some sort, apparently salvaged from somewhere, had been attached to its top edge to hold the paper in place.
Though he phrased it as a question, his pen was already flying across the page. The question had been a formality; he already knew the answer.
"Ah, yes, that's me. I didn't expect you to remember." Gary closed the door behind him, hiding the cluttered interior.
People in the Salt Tide District didn't invite visitors inside to sit down. It wasn't a matter of manners or some other cultural custom. Their shacks were simply too small to fit anyone else, and there was nowhere to sit.
"If you have a moment, I'd like to ask you a few questions. They might help us deal with this strange illness." Kraft dipped his pen in the inkwell Lucius was holding. "I won't ask about anything too personal."
As sincere as ever, Kraft made his case. Gary couldn't find a reason to turn down a doctor who had come to the Salt Tide District to solve their problem for free, especially when he wouldn't have