Summary

Chapter 18. Shortly afterwards, Samuel says, the government imposed a quarantine: adults were to leave their homes and take refuge in other parts of the area. Children were to be left behind. There was also a news blackout: broadcast organizations went off the air, citing the infectious, dangerous qualities of language. Meanwhile, Samuel went in search of Murphy, ending up at Oliver’s, where he encountered people working and taking refuge, most refusing to speak, none with any idea about anyone named Murphy. As Samuel searched for Murphy, he learned that it was not just the language of children that was infectious and caused the disease, but language in general: speech was becoming deadly, no matter who was speaking. He also discovered some workers excavating a hole and some cable, releasing the songs and words of Rabbi Burke into the air. He describes...