The Thoughts of Dr. Otto

Letters from Sardinia

Dear Otto

 It was quite a welcome surprise to see you again my friend. With how long it has been since we last met and all that keeps us busy it felt like an age had passed between me and you. Luckily the years did not see your desire for taste fade, such passions are what drew us together as friends, no? That day you came from the market with that bag of limes looking for the scent that came from our kitchen. Still you entertained us after with your costume, speaking in rhymes of fantastic tales, just as you did then. I found myself stuck on parts of your act though that with more thought troubled me.

You spoke of why you had traveled so far here in your performance and while I found it amusing, I was left with questions. One of the foul wind you said was blowing in from the East. If you had been called to the aid of any plague that had attempted to take hold in a nearby land, surely I would have known about it long before you came here? Where normally I would head no mind to your quaint and esoteric nature, this time it left me with an unease, much like when you spoke the tale of  the Eastern witch.

I believe that the dreary nature of that country has begun seeping in and is eating at you. That some dreadful occurrence in that rainy country has fouled your spirit. If so do not withhold your sorrow or anger from me and speak on what ails you. 

 So please my friend, write to me soon and put our minds at ease. If so, do stop by on your return and let me know of your journeys successes.

Yours truly

Mario Cappelli

12/1/1863

Dear Otto

 Again, my friend, I write to you not long after you visit me with suspicions of your motives. While you had come back after my first letter with more glee and normality about you, even then I had a sense of misgiving about the situation. So a fortnight from your departure, when I was informed of a search for a 'Von Rom' with a similar description to you and your costume's appearance, I decided that I must write to you. It may be a long time until you will be able to travel to see me again my friend. The entire town from wince you traveled to seems to have erupted in outrage over the butchery you committed on a sick man. 

The Priests had been needed to talk it to malpractice to spare you the rope in Christ's sake!, but still think of life without such fortunes my friend. I know full well this was no tragedy involving a traveling doctor. This had to have been a far greater scheme of yours! That a wandering medici from afar arrived to the perish's aid, just as they had a scare of plague is too great a coincidence for you. That the man be found dead with deep cuts along the back and into his ribs in a barbaric mockery of the practice of bleeding while tattered strips of rashy skin hung by the windows while clay took its place on the body inspire great revolt on the account. 

I only ask what cause justified such action from you. I know that you are not victim to random acts of violence, so I ask from you only why? What causes good doctor Otto Wahr to travel to the lands of Venice, to seek out a groom in his bed ill and do such things to him? Please put my speculation to rest and let those in my house know if your well meaning nature with it.

Greatest concerns

Mario Cappelli

8/2/1863

Dear Otto

 I have received your admission of guilt and find myself in some astonishment. For what superstitions I believed you to possess, never did I believe it to be to such an extent. Do not look to me as judge of your crime my friend, you will find no pardon. It was your hand that unleashed that plague on him as well as held the knife that tore him apart for some long begone hexxing. That you speak of a banshee in the night calling you to enact her will after death, could they have not gone themselve? Why is it your hand that must spill the blood? Please, clear your head of these thoughts my friend! Do not let yourself slip into that melancholy over wayward signs.

Plead to me that this bloomed over the heart of some young woman that you hold dear, give me some comfortable reason. Tell me of a fortune swindled from you, that this be something of a material matter that drove you to such spite. Let me sympathize with you. Tell me of a talking goose that lead you to the gates of which you sacked, so atleast the story might be a comedic tale.

Though I wish to see you again soon, I understand if there will be some time before your next arrival. So I will write to you as normal come spring, until then or our next correspondence.

Your friend

Mario Cappelli 

20/2/1863