Day 4

A strange thing happened while I was on duty in the Emergency Command and Control Vehicle. The sun shone through the glass window, and the temperature in the vehicle began to rise. Before long I felt a bizarre feeling, almost as though the blessed warmth was too blessed. It took me some time to come to terms with it. The warmth was more warm than how warm I wanted to be, if such a thing can be believed. When I deduced what was happening, I discovered the most remarkable thing: The window can be opened. Air from outside can come in. In a good way! It was pleasant.

I left the isolation habitat to walk my old accustomed loop. No cars were driving. I walked in the middle, to keep a distance from the many elderly inhabitants, whose contracts with the devil require them to weed unceasingly. They eyed me suspiciously, I who, in my young and ambulatory ways, might transmit the Dread Virus. No one waved. Waving spreads disease. All nodded. Nodding is safe. This is known.

They were wise to avoid me. I have contracted the sniffles.