I have received terrible news in the mail today. My long time colleague and friend, N. Perot, has committed the ultimate crime. Is this the beginning of another dark age for OES? I do not know.

Here is his letter:

My dear friend,
I regret to say that my time with you has come to a close. I am very sorry I couldn't say goodbye in a more personal setting, but alas, fate does not permit.
I am drowning myself today, Q., and it is with a heavy heart that I do so. I have discovered certain things that I feel no other person should know. So I die, taking this information with me.
Remember: Though this is the end for now, every ending is a beginning. Please carry on, good soldier.
"In Elbrahim We Rest,"
Norman Perot

The new recruit has been chosen! She will be known as Charesh.

In Elbrahim We Rest.

Great news! Recruitment is picking up. An influx of applications were sent to me in the last week or so.

In Elbrahim We Rest.

They are coming much more slowly than I expected. It is July, and I have received only two applications, one of them what is usually termed 'spam:' an unsolicited advertisement for teeth whitening. I do not take this as an insult to my physique, but rather a blow to my patience.

We Rest In Elbrahim.

Today, I received an encouraging message from one of my closest colleagues in Our Enlightened Society, Mr. Perot. He mentioned that he has read of many recruitment phases taking flight late in the first year of development. He put it very poetically; something about an apple ripening and then shriveling just after it reaches the perfect point. But I do not remember it exactly - I have never been eloquent in the poetic realm.

I look forward to late summer, when I should begin receiving a deluge of applications.

We Rest In Elbrahim.

I am having serious difficulties with recruitment in this phase. Records show that there were similar lulls in previous phases; especially those during Egdrish's time. However, for such a relative novice as myself, this is very discouraging. I am beginning to understand how so many of my forefathers could have committed the ultimate crime.

Before long I may begin taking antidepressants. T. Rye's bleak images do not improve my mood.

We Rest In Elbrahim.