A few weeks ago we published the first letter Sandy received from Dr. Merlo claiming to have dissected and illustrated a compendium of bizarre creatures that to Sandy, resembled some of the imaginary works of H.P. Lovecraft. This correspondence led to a friendship and ultimately the publication of our latest book The Anatomical Guide to Lovecraftian Horrors.

Here is the next letter he received, which continues to lend credence to the authenticity of his work. Sadly, Dr. Merlo seems to have disappeared under mysterious circumstances so we can’t validate anything. 

“Dear Mr. Petersen,

Thank you for your quick reply. I must assure you, the ichor on that sample is perfectly safe, so there is no biological danger. Lack of sleep can be dangerous when dissecting novel species, and carelessness can have more dire consequences than some stains on my notes.

To answer your question, no, sadly I do not carry a camera around and have mostly disposed of portable electronics. When I began my research, I was not aware of how dangerous electromagnetic fields could be when performing certain operations. You see, light-detection is a very limited sensory modality, as it is restrained by the presence of detectable light.

Older, more complex organisms can detect radio waves, x-rays, or electromagnetic fields from vast distances. Needless to say, one of my first field experiments almost resulted in me dying because of the phone in my pocket. Added to this, cameras don’t work under certain … environmental conditions.

I know this is difficult to grasp, but I ask that you trust me. As soon as I know it is safe, I will post some tangible evidence that proves my claims. In the meantime, my corrected notes on the Byakhee lifecycle will be mailed to you by an assistant in the coming weeks. I am preparing for a journey to Asia and will probably be away for a month.

Regards, 
LM”