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He had started out in the morning with a Robinson…Cmsoe feeling that he would wele any human panionship。 He had ended with the certainty that he would rather be alone until he found someone more congenial than the day had offered。 The sluttish woman had been the only one who had even seemed to want his pany； and there had been treachery and death in her invitation。 Even if he found a shot…gun and bushwhacked her boy…friend； she could offer only the grossest physical panionship； and at the thought of her he felt revulsion。 As for that other girl…the young one…the only way to make her acquaintance would be by means of a lasso or a bear…trap。 And like the old man she would probably turn out to be crazy。
No； the Great Disaster had shown no predilection toward sparing the nice people； and the survivors had not been rendered pleasanter as the result of the ordeal through which they had passed。
He prepared some supper； and ate； but without appetite。 Afterwards he tried to read； but the words had as little savor as the food。 He still thought of Mr。 Barlow and the others； in one way or another； each in his own manner； everyone whom he 38 George R Stewart had seen that day was going to pieces。 He did not think that he himself was。 But was he actually still sane？ Was he too； perhaps； suffering from shock？ In calm self…consciousness h（ thought about it。 After a while he took pencil and paper； deciding to write down what qualifications he had； why he might be going to live； even with some degree of happiness； while the others were not。
First of all； without hesitation； he scribbled：
1） Have will to live。 Want to see what will happen in world without man； and how。 Geographer。
Beneath this he wrote other notes。
2） Always was solitary。 Don't have to talk to other people。
3） Have appendix out。
4） Moderately practical； though not mechanical。 Camper。
5） Did not suffer devastating experience of living through it all； seeing family； other people； die。 Thus escaped worst of shock。
He paused； looking at his last note。 At least he could hope that it was true。
Still he sat staring； and thinking。 He could list others of his qualities； such as his being intellectually oriented； and therefore； he supposed； adaptable to new circumstances。 He could list that he was a reader and so had still available an important means of relaxation and escape。 'At the same time he was more than a mere reader in that he knew also the means of research through books； and thus possessed a powerful tool for reconstruction。
His fingers tightened about the pencil for a moment while he considered writing down that he was not superstitious。 This might be important。 Otherwise he would even now； like the old man； be fighting the fear that the whole disaster had been the work of an angry God； who had now wiped out his people by pestilence as once before by flood； leaving Ish （though as yet unsupplied with wife and children） like another Noah to repopulate the emptiness。 But such thoughts opened up the way to madness。 Yes； he realized； if a man began to think of himself as divinely appointed； he was close to thinking of himself as God…and at that point lay insanity。
〃No；〃 he thought。 〃What happens； at least I shall never believe that I am a god。 No； I shall never be a god！〃
Then； his flight of ideas still continuing； he realized that in some ways； very curiously； he felt a new security and even satisfaction at the contemplation of a solitary life。。 His worries in the old days had been chiefly about people。 The prospect of going to a dance had more than once sent him into a sweat； he had never been a good mixer； no one had asked him to join a fraternity。 In the old days； such things were a handicap to a man。 Now； he realized； they were actually a great advantage。 Because he had sat on the edge of so many social gatherings； not quite。 able to mingle in the conversation； listening； watching objectively； now he could endure not being able to talk； and again could sit and watch； noting what happened。 His weakness had bee strength。 It was as if there had been a blind man in a world suddenly bereft of light。 In that world； those with seeing eyes could only blunder about； but the blind man would be at home； and now instead of being the one who was guided by others； he might be the one to whom the others clung for guidance。
Nevertheless the lonely life stretching out before him did not seem so simple…and seemed far from secure or pleasant； as he again lay on his bed and through the darkness the cold fingers of the fog reached in from the Bay and folded within them the house on San Lupo Drive。 Then again that great fear came upon him； and he cringed in vague dread and listened for noises in the darkness； and thought of his loneliness and of all that might happen to him； too； in the course of that Secondary Kill。 A wild desire for flight and escape came upon him。 He had a feeling that he must go far away and move fast； and keep ahead of anything that might be pursuing him。 Then he rationalized this thought with the feeling that the disease could not have fallen everywhere upon the United States； that somewhere must be left some munity； which he should find。
Chapter 3
In the morning his panic had faded but the deep…seated fear was still with him。 He got out of bed carefully； and swallowed apprehensively in terror that he might have a sore throat。 He handled himself with all the care of an aged hypochondriac。 When he walked downstan…s he balanced himself meticulously； realizing that even a sprained ankle might mean death。
He immediately began preparations for flight； and as always when he began acting upon some definite plan； even though the plan in itself made little sense； he felt a quietness and satisfaction。 His own car was old。 He therefore began to look around for a better one among the many hundreds that were parked along the streets。 Most of these were without keys； but finally in a garage he found a station…wagon which suited his fancy and which contained a key。 He pressed the starter； and the engine responded perfectly。 He idled it for a minute； raced it； and decided that it was good。 He started to engage the gears； and then suddenly paused with a feeling of uneasiness。 He did not regret leaving his own car； but still something worried him。 In a moment he remembered。 He went back to his old car； and took out the hammer。 He carried it over to the station…wagon and laid it at his feet。 Then he drove out of the garage。
From a grocery he stocked himself； nibbling some crackers and cheese for lunch as he walked about selecting his cans。 He realized he might pick up supplies at any town。 Still； it would be convenient to have a reserve with him in the car。 From other stores he took a sleeping…bag； an ax and a shovel； a rain…coat； cigarettes； enough food to see him through several days； a small bottle of good brandy。 Remembering his experiences of the day before； he went into a sporting…goods shop； and selected a variety of weapons…a light shot…gun； a medium…calibre repeating rifle； a small automatic pistol that would go handily into a side…pocket； a hunting…knife。
Just when