This letter is written on a piece of fine stationary, with HXMAS Catabasis embossed at the top in gold. The message itself is written in ink in a strong, masculine hand.
Commander John Smith, Her Xenotopic Majesty's Air Ship Catabasis, Somewhere in the Outer Reaches
Wumpus 8th, 7 E8R
The Flying Temple, At The Center
Your Excellencies of the Flying Temple,
Subject: Duplicate Flying Temple Found
On the fifth day of the month of Wumpus in the 7th year of Her Xenotopic Majesty, Elizabeth the VIII's reign, the Air Frigate HXMAS Catabasis, engaged in a survey of the Outer Reaches, encountered what appeared to be an exact duplicate of the Flying Temple.
Now, as it happens, both I and my ship's physician (Lt. Arnold Hayward-Jones) have been to Flying Temple, and recognized the structure immediately. This duplicate temple appeared identical in every respect, except for two details: it is located in the Outer Reaches instead of The Center; and instead of bustling with the coming and going of pilgrims and monks and visitors, it appeared utterly and completely deserted.
We docked with the duplicate temple and have explored it with reasonable thoroughness. As far as we can ascertain, it appears to be a complete duplicate of the Flying Temple in every respect, except there are no living creatures of any sort. Where the real Flying Temple has gardens or trees or other plants, those are present, but there no insects or worms. Likewise, there are no signs of domestic animals in the barns and pens reserved for them. And while quarters for the monks and students that would normally inhabit the temple are present and furnished (even to the point of personal possessions), we found no actual human beings.
However, we did find plenty of signs of life: clothing in the middle of being washed, food abandoned while being cooked, even while being eaten. It is as if every creature capable of movement suddenly decided at the same moment to calmly get up, and walk off, leaving whatever they were doing at the moment behind them. It is quite odd, and my crew has found it most disturbing.
Rather more disturbing is that crewmen out exploring the temple have suddenly begun to disappear without any trace. So far eight men have vanished. For now, I am only sending large, well-armed search parties ashore to look for them, and keeping the remainder of my crew on board at all times.
I shall place this message in the stone basket outside the duplicate temple that appears identical to the one outside the real temple where petitioners who have come in person usually leave their message. I hope it reaches you, and soon, before I am forced to leave without my missing men.
Your humble servant,
Cmdr John Smith, HXMAS
I realize this is in a formal voice, but I was reading the description of Full Light, Full Steam and got an irresistible urge to write in a Victorian voice...