Read Chapter 17: — WHAT WE OWE ONE ANOTHER

The outbreak revealed generosity, but it also revealed cruelty.

Food prices rose in some shops. Fake cures circulated online. A landlord threatened a nurse with eviction because neighbours complained she worked at the hospital. A man spat at a delivery volunteer after being told he could not receive extra supplies meant for an elderly neighbour.

Ethan came home furious after hearing about the nurse.

Arthur listened over the phone.

"Emergency doesn't improve everybody," the old man said. "It magnifies people. Kindness becomes louder. So does selfishness."

"That's depressing."

"Only if you count the selfish people and ignore everyone carrying boxes."

Ethan looked at Maya asleep at the table over a list of prescription deliveries.

He thought about Ben at the outdoor shop. Tom's masks. Claire's warning messages. Mark dividing disinfectant. Jamie giving away half his supply. The anonymous donor who left twenty litres of hand sanitiser at a fire station.

"Fair point," he said.

"I usually have one."

"That's the cancer talking."

"No, that's age. Cancer mostly makes me sick."

Arthur laughed at his own joke.

So did Ethan.