March 21, 1979
It has been some time since I have last written, it appears. However, recall that appearances rarely have the level of connection to an object’s resonating pitch that is required in your specialized line of work. Search the pages again with redoubled effort, taking care to scry for invisible inks! Confirm that the pages have not been covered in any sort of nullspace scrawl or nullified by the work of foul Oswaldo! Of the greatest importance, recall how the most recent batch of Keepers visited and refused to clean up after themselves.
One would think that such a venerable organization would have the tact to assign one of their own mentors to a squire candidate. Nevermind the questing sickness: if they cannot find it in their time to train new recruits in their crusade against their starry-eyed parents, how can they be expected to keep the secret of The Four Apart?
My refusal to guide the young man that they had selected was met with harsh words and a mortifying lack of initiative on their part, but it is no matter: the component threads of the Grand Dream are adequately protected even in these dark times. I revealed such realities to their representatives, perhaps foolishly. I do not think that I will talk to them again, as I am old and if the past can be trusted for anything, they are not ones to forgive slights.
The core of the splinter that fell from the Order has all but vanished, melted away by the crescendoing winds of Hermes. To wence have they traveled, and from where will they return, if only once more? All that remain now are crumbs of the splinter, shaven fibers with grips stripped smooth by callowness. Soon, they too will follow my path and break away from this spiraling orbit or melt unperceptibly, irrevocably into the scenery like tears to a typhoon.
As for the matter of young Flogger, I must check in on him once before I go. Since he has been nominated, there is no doubt that others will be interested in him as well. A journey will be for the best, albiet the risks are great. I hope only that sending him away will act an innoculation until the time that he arrives at a proper teacher.
(Source: The private journal of Dr. Orlando Laswell)