After dropping Amos' stuff at the barn, we set out to find the others. A mental check list of those at attendance for the sermon made short work of finding everyone. Ten were willing to join us. Some eager for any form of guidance, Having been sitting in front of their homes, unsure of what to do. Others a bit apprehensive, but not too difficult to convince. Telling them that if they do get sick, they'll have the benefit of having others around to make sure they are taken to and set up comfortably in their beds.

Two had flat out refused, I tried to convince them with the same arguments I had used on the others. I tried the arguments I had used on Amos along with the offer to help them get set up and check in on their families afterwards. It didn't work, With Amos I had the backing of years of friendship helping me out. Here I had nothing but the reputation of a kid taking too long to grow up.

"Well, that's all of them." I say to Amos

"What about Yoder?"

"I'm not asking him. He'd refuse, or try to shut it down, or try to take over. Either way he's too busy making the rounds to bother asking."

"And your Ma? I noticed she wasn't at the sermon, is she... well you know."

"No, Yoder told me she wanted to stay with my Dad. And they had a private prayer planned for after the sermon in place of her actually attending."

"Are you going to invite her to the barn?"

"I doubt she'd come if I did."

Amos can likely tell I'm lying. At the least he can tell it's a soft spot for me. So, disregarding his curiosity he drops the subject.

The barn was filling up nicely when we returned. I had opened the doors expecting an atmosphere similar to that of the sermon. But, despite the circumstances there was a party like quality in the air. Some folk had brought food, Others extra bedding. Everyone sitting around conversing, Laughing, I thought it would be along time before I heard laughter again, and yet here it is.

I find myself joining in the revelry near immediately. Understanding now exactly why everyone was so eager to have a good laugh, pretending not to have a care in the world. Everyone but Amos, He's standing, head down, leaned against a wall. I try to explain it to him.

"Hey, I know its tough, but look around, everyone's trying to make the best of a bad situation. Sure the laughter may be a little forced. The greetings and excitement a little exaggerated. But we need this, escape from reality. Even if just for an hour we need to remember there are good times to be had. Besides, it's the harvest. This is was we should have been doing all along."

"It's not right Levi."

"I know"

Amos cuts me off before I can continue.

"It's not right, My family is at home, twisted up in the kitchen. Dying on the floor. And we're suppose to what. Sit here. Have a good time and wait for it to be over. Am I suppose to just wait until their rotted beyond recognition? Whose going to help me bury them Levi. We'll all have to bury our families, but it's like no one cares."

I place a hand on Amos is shoulder.

"Honestly, I don't know, I don't have a plan yet on what were suppose to do. Please just stick with me for tonight. I'll give a little speech, we'll get your family well situated and figure out what our next step should be."

While I was talking to Amos, someone had taken a few logs from the fire wood and laid them out on the floor in a straight line. Women setting up their beds on the left. Men on the right. I take the head of the barn and address both sides.

"Thank you all for coming. I appreciate that this is a hard time to be away from out families. You already know we need to separate ourselves from our families. You are by no means obligated to stay here, you are welcome to go about your lives as you normally would. Though it is strongly suggested you sleep here. I've only two request. The first, if you are to go into your respective homes. please to try and be as quick as possible. The less time spent inside those homes the better. My second request is, do not come into physical contact with any of the ill. you may be tempted to clean the vomit off the chins of you loved ones. Fluff their pillows, freshen their sheets. Please for your safety and ours. Fight that temptation. Now I am sure many of you have questions. And I will gladly answer as much as I can tonight. For the mean time though, day light is fleeting. Amos and I do have a bit more work to do. A final sweep to see whose healthy. And stocking up on further provisions. Thank you all again for your understanding."

There's a round of applause as Amos and I exit the barn. Heading towards his home to move his family.

"Why do they listen to you"

"Why have you been listening to me. Why are you okay with us going to move your family despite knowing, hearing me myself say! We should not go near, let alone touch our loved ones. It's simple, when no one knows what to do. They are willing to follow any leader that may come along. Even when that leader contradicts themselves."

"But shouldn't Yoder be that leader?"

"There's a lot I need to tell you about Yoder."

We begin moving his family as I explain most of what I've seen. And what I know Yoder knows but is keeping secret. I start off by telling him I think the Disease is spread through the "vomit". How I don't think it's actually vomit at all. But instead its own living mass. How whatever the Silver stuff is, it's whats making everyone sick. I point out the stew pot on the stove, still glowing dimly. His face turns pale, and tears stream down his face.

Seeing how difficult this is for him to swallow. I switch to my investigating. Hoping the story will distract him from the details that apply directly to his family. As we carry the first sister up the stairs. I tell him about seeing Susanna the first night. I leave out the part about the tree and instead say I was invited in when I brought the basket. By the time we're carrying the next sister up I'm telling him about the second night. Again changing the story a bit. This time I say I knocked on the door and grew concerned when they went unanswered. So I went in to investigate that everyone was alright. Which while still being an immoral act, as I should have found a relative of theirs to do the check up. Is far more justifiable.

It's while were heading down the stairs to get his Father I tell him about Yoder, measuring distances and taking samples. I slip up and mention climbing the tree to watch Yoder. The words linger in the air. I want to gloss over that part and continue but his Father is a very large and heavy man. We end up lugging him up the stairs in a solid forty five seconds of silence. Once we've finally got him in the bed I ask where I left off. But Amos simply shrugs.

Finally we're onto moving his Mother, Which feels like a bag of feathers in comparison. This is when I tell him about the Fisher's. Getting him entirely up to date with everything that I've seen and figured out to this point. I mention how I searched for Rebecca's two little sisters. And how I think they were likely sent to their aunts. But don't know for sure. I know they aren't close. But Amos shares the same aunt by marriage. So they are his cousins.

We lay his Mother down right as I'm wrapping up. Amos says the first thing he's said since we got here.

"Can I have a minute alone with my Mother please?"

I take this opportunity to clean myself up a bit. Washing my hands and face. I spot a Folding straight razor beside the sink. Noticing it's a bit brown already. I rinse it off. I've never used a folding straight razor before. Though I hear they are better once you get the hang of it. This one is difficult. I fumble a lot. The hinge is loose and I can not get it to stay upright. I slip and cut my neck badly. I press my hand onto my neck trying to stop the blood while I search for a cloth to put over it. the blood oozes out from under my hand, dripping down into the sink. I see how Amos got this razor so bloody himself.

Amos walks into the room. Looks at me, sees all the blood and steps out. Returning seconds later with a roll of bandage I wrap around my neck a few times.

"Thank you, I've never used this kind of razor before."

I smile, but Amos' expression does not change.

I continue.

"Are you ready to head back to the barn now?"

"No, I want to go see Susanna. We have to mark what's coming next."