“So, what happened?” Annie asked excitedly of her father. “What did he say? Tell me, [i]please[/i], Papa.”

Bran was conflicted about his daughter’s interest in the stranger. He'd raised her to be curious about the world, but he [i]had[/i] had and always [i]would[/i] have concerns about the Human Beings [i]infesting[/i] it. 

Bran had been born after the [i]Bug[/i] made its apocalyptic appearance on Earth. His parents and grandparents had all succumbed to it, leaving him in the care of strangers who, fortunately, had raised him as if he were one of their own. 

He'd been educated with a general understanding of the pre-pandemic world, alongside an understanding of what previously known technologies, processes, and more were better left forgotten. 

That was part of his concerns regarding this stranger. Bran had no idea where King had come from, nor what knowledge he brought with him from that place. The man might very well show himself to be free of any infectious pathogens, only to reveal an understanding of things Bran and the other Elders would prefer were left unknown to their people. 

“There's nothing to tell, Annie,” he told his daughter truthfully, as no one had questioned the stranger as of yet. “We put him in the quarantine hut. That's it.”

Bran could see the disappointment in his daughter's eyes. He talked to her about past visitors, only to have her point out rightfully that this one was indeed different. 

Annie headed out to do her chores, and Bran warned her about keeping her distance from the quarantine hut.  

Sometime later, he found her sitting with her friend, Belle, as the latter stood guard. Bran sent his daughter home, then replaced her on the small section of log that served as a bench. Silently for quite a while, he took his turn just staring at the hut and wondering about its occupant. 

“What did my daughter have to say about this man?” he finally asked the young woman next to whom he'd sat. He smiled at her, adding, “[i]If[/i] telling me wouldn't violate any sort of [i]confidence[/i], I mean.”