You've decided asking a doctor who has been in town a long time would be a good "next step" to take.  After asking a couple of locals, you're directed to Dr. Prune (you can't help but chuckle at that name, both for a doctor's natural remedy and for a town named after a tree), who has been doctoring people for 40 years in this area.

    Choosing to claim serious depression (which you figure you'll have if you leave without knowing Branchville's secret), you are quickly admitted to the office, and in what seems like just a few seconds after signing your life away (registering), you're sitting in one of the examining rooms. You happily nod at the joyful coloring of the room.  Every color of the rainbow is used, not only in decorations, but even the blood pressure cuff and paper sheets on the examining table. Somehow it gives you a relaxed and joyful feeling.  You even find it hard to concentrate on your mission.

    Suddenly you realize that one picture you've been looking at is a colorized pictureof a Branchville map... or is it?  Though much of it looks similar to Branchville, the labels have been painted over.  You walk over to it and a closer inspection tells you that it's possible to read through the paint.  You're disappointed to discover the name on the map was not Branchville.  It appears to say Mongerlomr.  You shudder at the similarities between Branchville and this map.  Could it be a sister town designed by the same architect? Even the cemetery is in the same spot, though the tombstones appear to be somewhat different. The other main difference is a small church at the corner of the cemetery in the picture.  You're pretty sure that area is just part of the cemetery in Branchville.

    When the doctor comes in, you try to be friendly.  You tell him you're a tourist, and wanting to know about the town.  His only interest is your depression, so you explain that you often get depressed and can't know what might happen to bring it on. You mention that even being in this town might bring it on.  He writes out a prescription, and drops it on the examining table.

    Before he goes out in a huff, he tells you "Don't play around with fire, my friend. You might be burned!"  Is he referring to Lucy Fire?  Or did he just let you know he guessed you're faking the depression thing?  Or is it both?
 
 
 
 
 

 Go back to the map.
 I'm too depressed, let me leave Branchville.