"In there," King's escort said as they reached a hut that sat far away from the rest of the village. The man named Paul promised food, water, clothing, and bedding, then repeated the warnings Annie's father had given regarding being a bother. About quarantine, Paul said among other things, "We cannot chance the Bug or anything else getting to our people."

It was the [i]anything else[/i] part of which King took notice. [i]The Bug[/i] that had nearly wiped out the Human Race wasn't the only microscopic danger threatening people anymore. Nearly all of the old dangers from before the invent of vaccines and medications had returned to haunt Humas: measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, even smallpox were all killing people in high numbers once again. Influenza, too, was taking lives, mostly during the winter months but -- depending on the region -- during the summer months as well.

Paul closed the door, and additional noise and movement of the door told King that it had been locked or barred or both as well. There were a number of voices in the near distance as villagers came to speak to Paul about the stranger amongst them. King tried to listen to some of the conversation but didn't pick up anything of importance. 

After a while, the door jostled again, then -- after Paul ordered King to move to the far wall -- opened again. The man tossed in a bundle of bedding, then a cloth bag onto that. "In it you'll find some warm clothes ... food ... water."

He pointed to a small open fire pit, then to firewood near one wall. "You can build a fire if it gets cold. [i]Colder[/i]," he corrected. "I don't know how long you'll be in here, but ... I assure you ... you will be taken care of if you don't make a fuss."

"Thank you," King responded with a polite smile. "I have no intention of making a fuss." He started forward for the offerings, then stopped as he saw Paul back up a step. King backed up again, saying, "I'll wait 'til you're gone."

"The girl you met on the beach," Paul said with a stern tone. "You'll stay away from her. Not just during quarantine but after, too. You have no reason to get to know her. [i]None.[/i]"

[i]I was right,[/i] King thought to himself regarding his earlier assumption that King and Annie had a thing together. He didn't speak on his feelings, though, instead only saying, "Of course."

Paul departed and again locked up the door. King went to work making a bed and a fire, cooking some meat and root crops, then laid down to think about where fate had taken him. In less than a minute, he was sound asleep.