This story takes place in Fort Repose where the wounded and radioactive people live and try to survive. Randy Brags a received officer takes charge of the city, and bring together the city once more. During the summer, the stranded city is trying to survive a brief shortage of fish while Randy solves a crisis involving a lack of salt. He combs the diary kept by his ancestor, who founded the town, and finds a …showed first 75 words of 919 total…

…showed last 75 words of 919 total…who first carved Fort Repose out of the wilderness. Life has continued in the rest of the United States over the long months that Fort Repose has been cut off, and at the end of the novel, the appearance of Paul Hart gives a brief sketch of the big picture. Randy declines his offer to return the once known civilization, because he feels that his mark on the world and people is with Fort Repose.