September 11, 2001, brought the fear of terrorism to the hearts of modern Americans, who had been relatively shielded from its grasp. In the years following 9/11, Americans, and especially New Yorkers, were on edge. When would the next attack take place? How would it happen? The indiscriminate nature of the attacks was especially terrorizing. They happened on a beautiful September day, full of blue skies and sun, a day like many other days. And in the middle of such normalcy came terror. Suddenly, all normalcy disappeared because people had no way of protecting themselves. When envelopes full of anthrax were mailed later that year, the same feelings were triggered—terror could reach anyone with a mailbox. The rich and the poor alike were vulnerable. Mitty, for all of his privilege and wealth, has no special protection against terrorism. In fact, he ends up being the target of terrorists.

Of course, terrorism existed before September 11, 2001. The history of smallpox is a history of terror, as smallpox epidemics struck viciously, killing and injuring everyone they touched. Outbreaks could occur anywhere and were especially virulent when the population had not built up any immunity, such as when Native Americans got the

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