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I supposed； she had pitched them。 In the bottom of the can was a small cardboard tube for a manufacturer's sample she had gotten in the mail。
Getting a flashlight out of my bag； I went outside and stood on the steps； waiting until Crockett got out of his truck。
'There's going to be a lot of motion here soon；' I said。
He stared at me as if I might be mad； and in lighted windows I could see the faces of people peering out。 I went down the steps； to the fence at the edge of the yard； around to the front of it and began shining the flashlight inside the cubbyholes where Pruitt had sold her recipes。 Crockett moved back。
'I'm trying to see if I can get any idea how long she's been sick；' I said to him。
There were plenty of recipes in the slots； and only three quarters in the wooden money box。
'When did the last ferry boat e here with tourists？' I shone the light into another cubbyhole； finding maybe half a dozen recipes for Lila's Easy Soft…Shell Crabs。
'In a week ago。 Never nothing since weeks；' he said。
'Do the neighbors buy her recipes？' I asked。
He frowned as if this were an odd thing to ask。 'They already got theirs。'
Now people had e out on their porches； slipping quietly into the dark shadows of their yards to watch this wild woman in surgical gown； hair cover and gloves shining a flashlight in their neighbor's cubbyholes and talking to their chief。
'There's going to be a lot of motion here soon；' I repeated to him。 'The Army's sending in a medical team any minute； and we're going to need you to make sure people stay calm and remain in their homes。 What I want you to do right now is go get the Coast Guard； tell them they're going to need to help you； okay？'
Davy Crockett drove off so fast； his tires spun。
9
THEY DESCENDED LOUDLY from the moonlit night at almost nine P。M。 The Army Blackhawk thundered over the Methodist church； whipping trees in its terrible turbulence of flying blades as a powerful light probed for a place to land。 I watched it settle like a bird in a yard next door as hundreds of awed Tangiermen spilled out onto the streets。
From the porch； I peered out the screen； watching the medical evacuation team climb out of the helicopter as children hid behind parents； silently staring。 The five scientists from USAMRIID and CDC did not look of this planet in their irtflated orange plastic suits and hoods； and battery…operated air packs。 They walked along the road； carrying a litter shrouded in a plastic bubble。
'Thank God you're here；' I said to them when they got to me。
Their feet made a slipping plastic sound on the porch's wooden floor； and they did not bother to introduce themselves as the only woman on the team handed me a folded orange suit。
'It's probably a little late；' I said。
'It can't hurt。' Her eyes met mine； and she didn't look much older than Lucy。 'Go ahead and put it on。'
It had the consistency of a shower liner； and I sat on the glider and pulled it over my shoes and clothes。 The hood was transparent with a bib I tied securely around my chest。 I turned on the pack at the back of my waist。
'She's upstairs；' I said over the noise of air rushing in my ears。
I led the way and they carried up the litter。 For a moment； they were silent when they saw what was on the bed。
A scientist said； 'Jesus。 I've never seen anything like that。'
Everyone started talking fast。
'Wrap her up in the sheets。'
'Pouched and sealed。'
'Everything on the bed； linens； gotta go in the autoclave。'
'Shit。 What do we do？ Burn the house？'
I went into the bathroom and collected towels off the floor while they lifted her shrouded body。 She was slippery and uncooperative as they struggled to get her from the bed inside the portable isolator designed with the living in mind。 They sealed plastic flaps； and the sight of a pouched body inside what looked like an oxygen tent was jolting； even to me。 They lifted the litter by either end and we made our way back down the stairs and out onto the street。
'What about after we leave？' I asked。
'Three of us will stay；' one of them replied。 'We got another chopper ing in tomorrow。'
We were intercepted by another suited scientist carrying a metal canister not so different from what exterminators used。 He decontaminated us and the litter； spraying a chemical while people continued to gather and stare。 The Coast Guard was by Crockett's truck； Crockett and Martinez talking to each other。 I went to speak to them； and they were clearly put off by my protective clothing； and not so subtly stepped away。
'This house has got to be sealed；' I said to Crockett。 'Until we know with certainty what we're dealing with here； no one goes in or near it。'
He had his hands in the pockets of his jacket and was blinking a lot。
'I need to be notified immediately if anyone else here gets sick；' I said to him。
'This time of year they have sickness；' he said。 'They get the bug。 Some take the cold。'
'If they get a fever； backache； break out in a rash；' I said to him； 'call me or my office right away。 These people are here to help you。' I pointed to the team。
The expression on his face made it very clear he wanted no one staying here； on his island。
'Please try to understand；' I said。 'This is very； very important。'
He nodded as a young boy materialized behind him； from the darkness； and took his hand。 The boy looked； at the most； seven； with tangles of unruly blond hair and wide pale eyes that were fixed on me as if I were the most terrifying apparition he had ever seen。
'Daddy； sky people。' The boy pointed at me。
'Darryl； get on；' Crockett said to his son。 'Get home。'
I followed the thudding of helicopter blades。 Circulating air cooled my face； but the rest of me was miserable because the suit didn't breathe。 I picked my way through the yard beside the church while blades hammered； and scrubby pines and weeds were ripped by the loud wind。
The Blackhawk was open and lit up inside； and the team was tying down the litter the same way they would have were the patient alive。 I climbed aboard； took a crew seat to one side and strapped myself in as one of the scientists pulled shut the door。 The helicopter was loud and shuddering as we lifted into the sky。 It was impossible to hear without headsets on； and those would not work well over hoods。
This puzzled me at first。 Our suits had been decontaminated； but the team did not want to take them off； and then it occurred to me。 I had been exposed to Lila Pruitt； and the torso before that。 No one wanted to breathe my air unless it was passed through a high efficiency particulate air filter； or HEPA； first。 So we mutely looked around； glancing at each other and our patient。 I shut my eyes as we sped toward Maryland。
I thought of Wesley； Lucy and Marino。 They had no idea what was happening； and would be very upset。 I worried about when I would see them next； and what condition I might be in。 My legs were slippery； my feet baking； and I did not feel good。 I could not help but fear that first fateful sign； a chill； an ache； the bleariness and thirst of fever。 I had been immunized for smallpox as a child。 So had Lila Pruitt。 So had the woman whose tor