[1] Set in the Judean desert, 2000 years ago, it features seven main characters: When Quarantine begins, the trader, Musa, is suffering from a fever in his tent in the open scrubland on the way to Jericho.

A series of power struggles ensues, in which Musa asserts his dominance over Aphas, Shim, his wife and eventually by raping Marta during a stormy night, having feigned illness to get her on her own.

Jesus' body is found in the cave, and the group bury him in the water-hole, which Miri had originally dug as Musa's grave.

The next day, with the tent and Miri's loom having been destroyed by the storm, Musa resolves to leave for Jericho (putting his crime behind him).

For a moment, he considers finding the figure to forge an alliance with him, but resolves instead to continue his business and to travel the world telling the tale of the stranger who saved his life in the tent.