The Last Town on Earth
"When Commonwealth votes to quarantine itself against contagion, guards are posted at the single road leading in and out of town, and Philip Worthy is among them. He will be unlucky enough to be on duty when a cold, hungry, tired - and apparently ill - soldier presents himself at the town's doorstep begging for sanctuary. The encounter that ensues, and the shots that are fired, will have deafening reverberations throughout Commonwealth, escalating until every human value - love, patriotism, community, family, friendship - not to mention the town's very survival, is imperiled."--BOOK JACKET.