To Dear Eva

May 1940

My beloved sister,

I thank you for your letters. They have kept my spirits up even while I
squander my talents in this god-forsaken field hospital. The field rations
remain bland - even the food at regimental HQ is ghastly, the commander has
the charming but misguided idea that he should eat the same as the masses - we
continue to move too fast to set up proper medical facilities, and are
constantly running out of beds due to the stream of casualties from the front
line. I have heard that the offensive is proceeding well, but apparently at
great cost.

My staff is tolerable, all things considered, and despite the uniformly
abyssmal human matter from which they have been drafted, I must congratulate
myself on my success in making something useful of them. You know, my sister,
that I am not a proud man, but I must confess that I believe it is solely due
to my unrelenting surveillance and paternal guidance that they have ceased to
be disgraces to the medical profession. I strive to maintain high standards of
Hygiene and Efficiency, but it is, I fear, an uphill struggle.

The patients remain as obnoxious and stolid as ever. It may be an advantage to
the German army that they fight well, and think little, but one must confess
that they are very tedious company, and seem to consider personal hygiene a
low priority. I treated an interesting brain injury the other day, and will
have to keep an eye out on the patient, to analyze the neurological damage he
has suffered.

You will find a manuscript accompanying this letter. Please store it somewhere
safe - it may not be ready for publication yet. We both know that prominent
persons in the Party have started to consider my work and opinions Unsound; I
feel I must keep a low profile, until their ire has passed. It is a great flaw
in my personality that I distaste mendacity so much: Had I been a more tactful
man, I would have been wise enough not to share my opinions of Certain
Projects with the medical authorities.

In any case, I hope that you are well, and that you have done better for
yourself than your poor brother. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

With love,
Jacob

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