We started working him into a second pouch, our hands and suits slippery with blood. It took us almost thirty minutes to get the body inside the isolator, and my muscles were trembling as we carried it out. My heart was pounding and I was dripping sweat. Outside, we were thoroughly doused with a chemical rinse, as was the isolator, which was transported by truck back to Crisfield. Then the team started work on the camper.

All of it, except for the wheels, was to be wrapped in heavy blue tinted vinyl that had a HEPA filter layer. I took off my suit with great relief, and retreated into the warm, well-lit rangers’ station, where I scrubbed my hands and face. My nerves were jangled and I would have given anything to crawl into bed, down shots of NyQuil and sleep.

“If this ain’t a mess,” Marino said as he came in with a lot of cold air.

“Please shut the door,” I said, shivering.

“What’s eating you?” He sat on the other side of the room.

“Life.”

“I can’t believe you’re out here when you’re sick. I think you’ve lost your friggin’ mind.”

“Thank you for the words of comfort,” I said.

“Well, this ain’t exactly a holiday for me, either. Stuck out here with people to interview, and I got no wheels.” He looked frayed.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’ll find something. Rumor has it Lucy and Janet are in the area and have a ride.”

“Where?” I started to get up.

“Don’t get excited. They’re out trying to find people to interview, like I gotta do. God, I gotta smoke. It’s been almost all day.”

“Not in here.” I pointed to a sign.

“People are dying of smallpox and you’re bitching about cigarettes.”

I got out Motrin and popped three without water.

“So what will all these space cadets do now?” he asked.

“Some of them will stay in the area, tracking down any other people who may have been exposed either on Tangier or in the campground. They’ll work in shifts with other team members. I guess you’ll be in contact with them, too, in case you come across anyone who might have been exposed.”

“What? I’m supposed to walk around in an orange suit all week?” He yawned and cracked his neck. “Man, aren’t they a bitch? Hot as hell except up in the hood.” He was secretly proud that he had worn one.

“No, you won’t be wearing a plastic suit,” I said.

“And what happens if I find out someone I’m interviewing was exposed?”

“Just don’t kiss him.”

“I don’t think this is funny.” He stared at me.

“It’s anything but that.”

“What about the dead guy? They going to cremate him when we don’t know who he is?”

“He’ll be autopsied in the morning,” I said. “I imagine they’ll store his body for as long as they can.”

“The whole thing’s just weird.” Marino rubbed his face in his hands. “And you saw a computer in there.”