In 1990 it appeared in Card's short story collection Maps in a Mirror and also as a Tor double novel, with The Tunesmith by Lloyd Biggle, Jr.

When Mick gets angry at people, his power manifests itself by launching an attack upon them by giving them cancer, leukemia or related terminal illnesses.

Mick was raised in an orphanage and along his journey to manhood unintentionally killed several people who mistreated him, as well as nearly everyone he loved, though nearly every occurrence was accidental.

After being brought to the village's Patriarch, Papa Lem, Mick learns the intent of the colony and how they operate.

Mick then refuses to "spread his seed" with the daughter of Papa Lem and returns to his parents' house for the night.

Mick ends up killing his father and setting fire to the village while at the same time learning new extents to his abilities.