Two years pass in which Neville has continued to study the Undead and live as normally as possible. He spends part of the day hunting for Ben Cortman’s hiding place, but has yet to find it. He has returned to a healthy weight, cut back on his drinking, and fully accepts his life as it is. Neville is fully committed to the present.

While looking for Ben Cortman, Neville notices a woman, Ruth, walking across a field. He is stunned, questioning whether or not she is real. He calls out to her, and when she begins running away, he chases her. When he catches up to her, Ruth fights back. Though Neville yells that he won’t hurt her, he slaps her across the face to stop her fighting him. Ruth stays still and tells Neville her name.

Neville drags a reluctant Ruth to his house; she falls asleep in his bed. He watches her sleep and reflects on his reaction to her sudden appearance. For as much as he’s fantasied about female companionship, he finds that he does not trust Ruth nor is he sexually attracted to her, as her slim figure is “not at all like the woman he’d used to envision” (118).