Dear Eric, Piles and piles of books, boxes of documents, photographs, bones, shreds of clothes, shards of plates--my life is consumed by artifacts. I take a few minutes' sleep every three or four hours, I work around the clock as I have for years, but the objects of my study still accumulate and offer no help. I do all. Once (I was very young) I asked if I could have been born to other parents. The answer I received was not pleasing. I asked other questions, and now I can see this is where it all started. With a patience even I do not understand, I have labored to explain, all my life. The one thing I did not keep track of was my years, and now I sense I am very old. I think I may be dying. But I am close to my triumph, almost ready to justify everything. I have not heard from you yet. Why? I don't need much--a brief narrative, an important incident or two, even a description of your footwear, or a lock of hair. Without data on everyone, how can the pattern become clear? Please. I need your response. Historian