Phillips Harbour.
October 18, 1868. Sunday morning.
Rev. Milton, the church's regular pastor, gives the sermon today. It's more of the hellfire and brimstone variety. Last week's sermon by Rev. Hale was about charity and generosity to strangers, but Milton's is on the danger posed by the Devil and those who'd consort with him. He lectures the congregation to be vigilant against the threat of witchcraft and devilry. It's the sort of sermon that sounds like it belonged to a prior century, but the Phillips Harbour congregation accepts it with solemn nods and sober looks.
After the service, Herbert waits outside until Rev. Hale emerges. After several minutes, the taller man does so, disengaging himself from the crowd and starting to head away.
"Excuse me, Reverend Hale?" Herbert calls, although not too loudly, as he tries to catch up to the man without drawing too much attention.
At the call, Hale turns around. There's a distant look in his eyes, cold and hard, but it melts away into a more ordinary if still serious demeanor as he focuses on Herbert. He walks over to the Englishman. "Good morning, Mr. Shaft."
Herbert doffs his hat, and replies, "Good morning as well, good sir. I don't suppose I could trouble you for.. well.. any expertise you can offer on dealing with curses or.. werewolves?"
Rev. Hale blinks several times. "Oh. Of course, my son." He glances at the crowd of churchgoers around them. "Somewhere more private, I assume?"
Shaft nods and whispers, "It's Caliban, he hoped you could take a look at him. He was attacked the other night."
"Ah, yes, I'd heard." Rev. Hale nods, walking with the other man towards the docks. "You took him to see the doctor? I understood he was doing all right, still walking about -- has his condition worsened?"
"Physically he is recovering, but I think he may be afraid of lingering supernatural effects," Shaft explains. "We tracked the beast to the woods, and then lost the spoor."
The reverend nods again. "I'll admit I'm worried about the forces at work here, myself. Openers are ... an unholy lot," he says, grimly.
"And from what I have learned, Miss St. John is one of the worst," Herbert notes. "I believe the wolf was actually her, transformed. Some of the animals in the woods support her. My suspicion is that she wishes to do away with humanity altogether."
"Oh yes. That's exactly what St. John wants. Believe me. I've dealt with her before," Hale says.