Annie had left her father and King on the hillside to finish her work down at the seashore. The village operated several types of fish and shellfish traps that were partially Annie's responsibility to empty, bait, and -- when necessary -- repair or move. She also had chores related to her family hut, including gathering [i]seawood[/i]; hundreds of pounds of the sea [i]weed[/i] washed up on the shore daily, and after a cutting, drying, stripping, and twisting process became [i]logs[/i] that burned long and hot in cook and heating fires.

Once she'd finished her work, Annie [i]casually[/i] went looking for King. Her father caught sight of her near the quarantine hut on one occasion and gave her a chastising look. She walked away as if she hadn't been eagerly wanting to see King. [i]Finally[/i], he came outside to sit and watch the work of the villagers unfolding about him. 

"Feel better?" Annie asked from where she sat on a rock at the perimeter of the isolation zone. She knew by the fresh, village-provided clothes and slicked back hair that King had finally had his bath. "The village has a communal dinner each night. More efficient. I'll bring you a plate if you're hungry."

She hurried off, returning a few minutes later with a plate that she sat atop one of the cairns before moving back to her rock an appropriate distance away. As they ate -- together but apart -- Annie asked King to tell her more about the world beyond [i]her[/i] world. 

The temperature dropped quickly as the sun disappeared behind the tall mountains to the village's west. Bran came by to tell them, "Annie, you have things to do at the house ... and King, if you want ... I spoke to the Council members about your request to see the interior. It was a close vote, but ... it was denied ... [i]for now[/i], anyway. It's been decided that your quarantine continue for another ten days, at which time -- if you've shown no signs of illness -- you will be allowed to leave quarantine ... and go and do what you wish."  

Annie's expression as her father was talking showed her initial disappointment at the restrictions, followed quickly by her delight that he would, ultimately, be released without those restrictions. She asked, "During quarantine, King will still be allowed to work, though, right...? Maybe help me with the shore traps, Papa ... and you with the snares?"

King studied his daughter as she spoke, again conflicted on how he felt about her infatuation with the newcomer. Bran didn't know this man, which was ironic because he knew him better than anyone else in the village. King could be the worst thing to ever happen to this community if he turned out to be infected with the Bug or any of a number of other ailments that had returned to ravage Human Beings. Or, if he was as healthy as both Bran and Annie hoped, he could turn out to be one of the best things that had ever happened to the village [i]and[/i] to Annie.

"King, you can walk the snare route with me in the mornings and evenings," Bran offered, "and you can check the sea traps with Annie, too. Other than that, the Council wants you to remain here in or near your hut ... though ... if you need to take a walk on occasion ... stretch your legs ... I'd be more than happy to accompany you."

As either of the men might have expected, Annie smiled wide at hearing that she was going to get to spend time with King every day.