Opening the stacks
Opening the stacks
The isolated, clannish Wisconsin community maintains a tacit silence about Wallace's unusual condition, reflecting cultural resistance to outside interference.
2 chapters across 2 books
In this chapter, Intelligence agent Claude Lewis discusses with Dr. Erwin Hardwicke the mysterious case of Enoch Wallace, a man born in 1840 who appears physically no older than thirty. Lewis explains the isolated and conservative nature of the Wisconsin community that has kept Wallace's longevity a secret, and details Wallace's simple lifestyle, his shipments of precious gems, and his extensive reading and writing habits. Despite two years of investigation, Lewis remains baffled by Wallace's apparent immortality and seeks scientific insight from Hardwicke.
William Witt faces a profound disruption in his orderly life as his home becomes overrun by chaotic guests, forcing him to confront basic survival needs. Concurrently, Jo-Beth challenges her mother's denial and fear, determined to confront unsettling truths, while Howie grapples with his supernatural legacy and a desperate search for certainty amid moral ambiguity. The narrative also reveals the fractured, secretive nature of the community through encounters with Joyce McGuire and Ruth Gilford, highlighting personal trauma and the ominous influence of supernatural forces and apocalyptic rumors in the Grove.