Jacob, putting the revolver back, not [i]wanting to shoot anyone[/i] (and probably seeming like a coward to Mattie as this was the second time he drew his gun without shooting), crossed his arms. He gestured toward Nicholas and told him, "Well, I don't know the whole story. Him and Mattie were at this house right down the street when I met them. Mattie said he'd been bitten, and when I went in there the kid had sawed his freakin' arm off."

Shaking his head, he looked at Nicholas with pity. "I was stupid enough that I didn't get the blood from his infected arm off of him, and it caused him to get the virus. But it looks like he's recovered remarkably through the night." He rubbed his face with his hands, going over and sitting on the chair that Mattie had left by Nicholas. "You can have a seat across from here."