He was so exhausted he could barely rouse, but he thought he felt someone shaking his shoulder.

"Doc! Doc, wake up! Ya gotta come quick! Doc!"

The old physician snapped awake. "Festus? Festus, what in tarna--"

"--Doc, please hurry, somethin's wrong with Matthew... ."

Doc stood up and headed toward his bag and the door. "What happened, he get shot?"

"No sir. He's jes' got a fever somethin' awful, and I cain't rouse him a-tall..."

The two men pounded down the stairs and hurried to the jail. Doc went through the door first and over to Matt's bunk. He set his bag down, and made a quick examination of the marshal's temperature, eye response, throat and pulse. Festus didn't like the look on Doc's face one bit.

Worry permeated the twangy voice, "Doc? What's wrong with him?"

"Bring me some cold water and some cloths, Festus."

"Yessum..."

Doc put a strong hand on Matt's forehead and felt a corresponding pang of worry in his own chest. The marshal was burning up, and his pulse was unsteady and quick.

"You just stay with me, Matt."

Festus returned with a bowl of cold water and cloths. Doc dunked one and gently lay it on Dillon's forehead.

"Festus, I want you to soak a few more for me."

Haggen did as he was told and watched Doc put the others on the front and back of the marshal's neck. Doc used his stethoscope to listen to Matt's heart, and he felt cold fear rush through him. Festus laid a soft hand on the doctor's arm.

"Doc, whut is it? Ya look so worried..."

"He's showing some of the same symptoms as Eli Kendall."

Dark hazel met steel blue and Festus swallowed hard, knowing he had to ask the question. "How is Kendall?"

Doc's gaze misted over with dread. "He's dead, Festus. Lost him during the night." The old doctor put a gentle hand on Haggen's forearm. "There are several other cases that I'm now pretty sure are all one and the same illness."

"What are you sayin' Doc?"

"First I'm going to give you a list of names, and you're going to take Burke with you, and move everyone on that list, and their families, to the Longbranch."

"The Longbranch?"

"Yes. We need a large area that can be contained. I want you to get as many cots as you can in there, supplies, medicines, food and water. I don't know how long this could take. Then you're going to have to close down the town, Festus. No one comes in, no one goes out. Not until I know exactly what it is that we're dealing with." The normally fearless hazel eyes were streaked with anxiety. Doc moved his hand to Haggen's shoulder. "I want you to go to the telegraph office, Festus, and send out a quarantine warning. I'll write down exactly what it should say, and it should be sent to all the neighboring towns within a hundred miles of Dodge."

Festus nodded, but was too shocked to speak. Doc rubbed the shoulder under his hand for a moment. "From here on out, I don't wantcha to come near me, nor any of the sick. When you go out to the houses on the list, I want you to cover your nose and mouth with your bandana, and I want you to keep your distance, understand?"

Once again Haggen nodded, but said nothing. Doc shook him slightly, his voice tense with stress. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, Doc."

"Fine. I'm going to make out the list, and then you'd better get going."

Festus stood and stared at Doc while the man scribbled names on a piece of paper. When he was finished, Adams thrust the paper at Festus, who silently took it, but didn't move. Doc's voice sounded sharper than he intended.

"Well, what are you waiting for?"

Haggen's voice was filled with anxiety. "What about you, Doc?"

Adams stared into the frightened hazel eyes, and he softened. "Don't you worry none about me, Festus. I'll be fine." When the deputy still didn't move, Adams stood and cuffed one of his large hands behind Haggen's head, looking straight into the man's eyes, his deep voice caressing with velvet. "I'll be fine. Now you go on."

Festus went to the door, and as he opened it, he turned back to the old doctor. "Don't you do nothin' foolish, Doc, you hear me?"

"Foolish was the first day I ever bought you a beer." Doc's voice turned gruff, "Now get outta here, Festus!"

With increasing dismay, Festus flexed his hand around the latch on the door, then without looking back, left the office, closing the door and two of his dearest friends behind him.