By the road to the contagious hospital br under the surge of the blue br mottled clouds driven from the br northeast -- a cold wind. Beyond, the br waste of broad, muddy fields br brown with dried weeds, standing and fallen br br patches of standing water br the scattering of tall trees br br All along the road the reddish br purplish, forked, upstanding, twiggy br stuff of bushes and small trees br with dead, brown leaves under them br leafless vines -- br br Lifeless in appearance, sluggish br dazed spring approaches -- br br They enter the new world naked, br cold, uncertain of all br save that they enter.