At a college in Oregon, Orlando dates a girl called Nora Vardon. When he goes to meet her family for the first time at their home in Vancouver, Nora’s brother George challenges him to a tennis match on their backyard court. Orlando beats him, and George, out of breath and red in the face, tells Orlando he contracted Malaria in Ecuador. Orlando gets the impression something strange is going on with George and doesn’t mention the malaria to Mr. Vardon or Nora. Back at school, Nora learns that her brother was arrested and has been hearing voices. She worries that she, too, might be crazy. The couple go back to Vancouver over Thanksgiving where George seems much worse, and finally Orlando confesses about the malaria comment to Nora. She is unfazed. Years later, long after he and Nora break up, Orlando thinks of George and his tragic fate.