Victim is Dr. Oren Redridge, exploratory archeologist. Discovered anti-sunward of the Pecos River by his apprentices on the 214th day of the 472nd year. Time of death unknown, cause of death unknown. Last seen by aforementioned apprentices on the 207th day headed sunward from their basecamp.

  Exterior examination of the body revealed hair loss and apparent skin burns (cause unknown). Interior examination reveals massive organ damage of unknown cause. The organs appear to have practically liquified, far beyond the effect of any blunt-force trauma.

  In my lengthy career I have never seen injuries of this nature. I have found a similar case in the archives involving two boys who died in a similar manner after playing near an abandoned mineshaft in the mountains. However, this occurred nearly 15 walking-days apo-sunward from where Dr. Redridge was found.

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  The field journal found with Dr. Redridge indicates that something in the Ancient site he was exploring is the cause of his death. Given the unknown and clearly deadly nature of his injuries, it is my professional recommendation that a thorough medical and archaeological investigation of the site in question be completed with full biohazard procedures in place.

  ———

  Roughly half a day after completing Dr. Redridge’s autopsy — during which all standard sanitary procedures were observed — I have noted a growing redness on my hands and lower arms, similar to the skin burns found on the victim. At this time my symptoms are not as severe as the victim’s and do not seem to be progressing, but I fear whatever killed him is not deterred in the slightest by our medical safety procedures. I now recommend that the Ancient site be sealed outright, in order to prevent whatever this is from spreading to the rest of the population.