Becky, 14, is beholden to Dane, 17, for saving her life after the "bomb". But she cannot decide if she wants him to be her big brother or eventually a lover. Eventually, the new Order and a somewhat demented rival to her may make that decision for her.
Paul Swearingen is a retired English/journalism/Spanish teacher who managed to survive 34+ years in public, private, and government schools. He also was a radio newsman and disk jockey, a newspaper editor and photographer, a personnel manager for a large retail store (now defunct), and a long-time publisher of the National Radio Club's magazine, "DX News". He lives in Topeka, Kansas, where his main current duty is to keep his garden under close control.