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George and Maurine； sinking the Methodist…Catholic differences； were the ones who suggested church services…〃for the sake of the children。〃 They appealed to Ish； who was something of a leader； especially in things intellectual； Maurine； broad…mindedly； even told him that she would not object to the use of 〃the Skeptic form of services。〃
Ish felt the temptation。 He could easily piece together some harmless bits of religion； give fort and confidence to people who might often need it badly； and supply a core of solidity and union to the inunity。 George； Maurine and Molly would wele it； Jean should be easy to convert again； Ezra would not stand in the way。 But Ish himself hated building upon a foundation of insincerity； and he knew that Em would see through the sham。
In the end they held a service each Sunday…George had kept track of Sunday； or at least thought so。 They sang hymns； and read from the Bible； and stood uncovered for silent prayer； each for himself。
But Ish never prayed during the period of silence； and he did not think that Em or Ezra did either。 Moreover； Jean maintained her hostility stoutly； and never attended。 Ish felt that if he had had more fervor； or more hypocrisy； he could have argued Jean over。 As it was； however； the church services were cultivating disunion rather than unity of feeling； and sham more than true religion。 One day； on the spur of the moment； Ish put an end to them。 He did it rather neatly； he thought； ending his speech with the idea that they were not really giving up the services but merely extending the period of silent prayer indefinitely…〃letting each one of us carry on in his heart as he wishes。〃
Molly wept a little at what seemed to her such a lovely thought； and so the experiment with the church at least was ended in harmony。
At the beginning of the Year 9 there were seven adults； and Evie； and thirteen children； ranging in age from new…born babies up to Molly's Ralph； who was nine； and Ish and Em's Jack； who was eight。
Everybody had a pleasant sense of confidence and security in the growth of the munity； or of The Tribe； as they now said more often。 The birth of each baby was a time of real rejoicing； as the shadows seemed to draw back a little and the circle of light to enlarge。
Soon after the beginning of that year； a decent…looking oldish man came up to George's house one morning。 He was one of those wanderers who still occasionally； though less and less often； passed through。
They received him hospitably； but like the others he showed little reaction to what they did for him。 He stayed only over one night； and then went off again； without even saying good…bye； in the aimless way of those shocked ones。
He had scarcely gone； it seemed； before people began feeling irritable。 All the babies started crying。 Then soon there were sore throats and running noses and aching heads and swollen eyes； and The Tribe was suddenly in all the throes Of an epidemic。
This was all the more remarkable because throughout the preceding years the general health had been so unbelievably good。 Ezra and some of the others had suffered with bad teeth； George； who was the oldest； had plained of various aching joints which he described under the old…fashioned term 〃rheumatism〃； occasionally a scratch became infected。 But even the mon cold seemed to have vanished entirely； and there were only two diseases that remained active。 One Of these struck each of the children sooner or later； it was a great deal like measles in its symptoms； and doubtless it was measles； and that was what they called it； lacking any doctor to make them sure。 The other began with a violent sore throat； but yielded so quickly to sulfa pills that no one really knew its full course。 As long as there were sulfa pills in any drug store and they kept potent in spite of age； Ish saw no need to find out experimentally just how this sore throat would develop； if left untreated。
Why so few diseases remained…this seemed miraculous to people like George and Maurine； and they were inclined to be superstitious about the matter。 They felt that God in some great anger had nearly wiped out the human race in one vast plague； and thus being satisfied； had seen fit to remove the minor plagues as a kind of pensation…just as； after Noah's flood； he had set the rainbow in the sky as a sign that there would never again be another such flood。
To Ish； however； the explanation was plain。 Since so large a proportion of the people had died； the chain of most infections had been broken； and many individual diseases had； you might say； 〃died〃 when their particular kinds of bacteria became extinct。 Of course there would still be the diseases which might spring from the mere deterioration of the human body； such as heart…failure and cancer； and George's 〃rheumatism；〃 and there might also be animal…borne infections； like tularemia and tick…fever。 Also there could be； here and there； individual survivors who carried some disease in chronic form； but could still pass it on to others； just as someone of themselves had probably been responsible for the survival of 〃measles。〃
The old man； everyone remembered too late； had blown his nose occasionally。 Doubtless he had an infected sinus； and so had infected them all with what used to be called 〃die mon cold；〃 although lately it had been so unmon as to seem extinct。
In any case there was something almost ic in the way so many disgustingly healthy people were suddenly transformed into sneezers and coughers and hawkers and noseblowers。
Fortunately； the cold ran its course without plications； and in a few weeks everyone was ivell again。 Throughout the rest of that year Ish lived in fear of another outbreak。 There was a good chance； he knew； that the infection might be quiescent in one of them； and then break loose again when die short…time immunity of the others had worn off。 But the long dry summer （it was particularly sunny that year） doubtless helped everyone to throw。off the last vestiges of the infection。 That was great luck！ Ish had been highly susceptible in the Old Times。 He had sometimes said； not altogether as a joke； that the loss of the mon cold pensated for the acpanying loss of civilization。
That autumn； however； the good luck ran out。 No one ever knew exactly what happened； but three of the children fell ill with violent diarrhoea； and died。 Most likely they had been wandering about at play in one of the near…by uninhabited houses； and had found some poison…ant…poison； perhaps。 Tasting it curiously they had found it sweet； and shared it。 Even when dead； civilization seemed to lay traps。
One of the children had been Ish's own son。 He had always worried； not about himself； but about Em； in such a case。 Yet； though she moumed for the child； he saw that he had underestimated her strength。 Her hold on life was so strong that； paradoxically； she could accept death also as a part of life。 Both Molly and Jean； the other bereaved mothers； grieved hysterically； and were much more stricken。
That year two children were born； but nevertheless the total number of The Tribe for the first time was smaller at the end than at th