Squamous with a Chance of Rain

A Prosperity Story

Dear Dr. Howard,

The enclosed comprises the complete personal correspondence of Patient #137 prior to her admittance to Bethlem Royal Hospital.

It is my hope that these documents will provide valuable insight into the events immediately preceding her current episode and may, therefore, usefully inform your treatment of her.

Since arrival, her behaviour has been characterised by long periods of docility, punctuated by outbursts of hysteria, in the grip of which she has seduced into deviant behaviour a nurse, a Quaker, and two representatives of the Fallen Women's Society.

She has also spoken in unknown, inhuman languages, inscribed the floor with malignant, ever-shifting runes, and revealed to the other inmates an infinite sky of alien constellations, much to the distress of the staff.

I trust you will have greater success with her than we have.

Yours sincerely,
Dr. L. Phillips

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NOTE: This title is included in the Liberty & Other Stories collection.

Word count: 15,900; page count: 77