After the electricity went off in the United States, the country suffered a great fire, and survivors found themselves with no workable economy or unified government, some few enterprising merchants traveled about scavenging and trading for leftovers from the time before the great catastrophes. Master story teller Dan Williams tells about two such merchants as they struggle with bandits, religious zealots, and armed militias who proclaim their own law. This thoughtful and engaging story of the near future is not one you will want to miss.