We found another body. Deflated like a pool toy, with everything between the skin and bone completely gone. Either surgically removed, or broken down by enzymes that only affect soft tissue.

This is the second Cuero-related death this week.

We cremated what was left of the poor soul, as you advised. We were lucky to find the body before it rained, or it was claimed by the tide. We can't afford to let any of those cadavers rehydrate. We've seen what happened to the others.

Even more alarming, one of our scientists was attacked yesterday. Ed Darby. He was with the rest of the expedition, went to get a water sample, and as he approached the lake, one of the creatures jumped out of the murk. He was lucky the others were there; they managed to fend it off with gunfire and tend to his wounds. The method of attack agrees with our coroner's theories--the creature embraces the victim with its pectoral fins, then attempts to strangle them with its elongated proboscis. If Mr. Darby had been alone, I'm certain he would have been hollowed out in no time.

Mr. Darby is in the hospital just now. He has a few tears on his chest where it gripped him, and a broken leg from the fall. We thought the wounds were from claws or fangs at first, but further study showed that they better corresponded to the shape of the human fingerbone. Likewise, the claspers at the end of the proboscis are very similar to human molars.

Mr. Darby made a detailed report of the attack; I'll send it to you later, but a part of it concerned me. He claims it was only interested in him, and that it had plenty of chances to change targets, but chose not to, even as it was getting shot at. He thinks the creature recognized him as the only scientist on the team.

Given that the creatures have shown an alarming degree of intelligence, it doesn't seem wise to dismiss his account just yet. Especially considering that of the last five victims, at least two of them had been personally or professionally acquainted with Mr. Darby. There has been evidence that some caterpillars retain memories from before their metamorphosis. Is it possible that the process of becoming a Cuero might be comparable?

The fences are still up. Nobody's allowed near the lake, but we don't know how long we can enforce that before it raises suspicion, and in the last few days, we've spotted cattle grazing near the shore.

I fear we may be running out of time.