From the letters of Gregory Roberts – May 21st, 1960
My dear sister Julie,
I cannot believe that it has been a year to the day since I wrote you that letter about surviving the sinking of the BEAUMONT. How things have changed since then!
Firstly, congratulations on your engagement! I knew that you and Billy would probably soon head down the aisle after watching the both of you interact at Christmas. You are quite the charming couple! I expect that I might hear soon that I am to be an uncle!
The fact that we were able to celebrate last Christmas together at all completely baffles me. When we learned last summer that both sides of the war had developed atomic weaponry at pretty much the same time, I was sure that many bloody battles lay ahead. Who would have thought the idea of mutually assured destruction would cause cooler heads to prevail? I am sure things will be quite tense in the geopolitical arena for just some time!
Enough about the world though. I am writing to let you know that I am returning to the Dominion of Newfoundland. As I mentioned, I had the pleasure of being saved by the "Tabbys" during my unfortunate encounter with an Axis torpedo last year. In the interim I have been exchanging letters with some of the people that I had the pleasure of meeting during my short stay in their enclave.
It looks like the international community has decided to not let these unfortunate souls return to their homelands now that the war has ended. The Western Council of Nations has ruled that these people should never again return to their respective motherlands, as it is feared it may kick off a genetic arms race as each country would be tempted to try to tap into reigniting these now forbidden sciences.
The Dominion has agreed to continue to host the Tabbys and will allow them to continue to live in their enclave. Now that their situation is turning from a temporary to a permanent one, they need to start building new lives.
Unfortunately, humanity has a fearful history of being suspicious of "The Other." My contacts have told me that things have been tense with some of the local communities. They are looking or people to act as "Friendly Faces" or liaisons for the Tabbys until the local populous acclimate to the idea of large catlike people living nearby.
I will be departing next week and will try to call once I have settled in.
Remember to let me know when you have the date of your wedding settled!
Your brother,
Gregory