Chapter 1 Summary

This 1959 work of fiction takes place in the same year published and is the story of a small town in north central Florida. Population of Fort Repose and surrounding area is just under five thousand. Central characters are the Bragg brothers and their family. The older Mark is a career military officer. His brother Randy seems at first a ne'er do well lawyer and borderline alcoholic. Randy lives the carefree life of a wealthy old Florida family's younger son. Mark's premonitions and fears initiate the storyline but he is in only the spirit, hope and memories of his wife and children during most of it. Mark sends them to Randy in Fort Repose since Omaha is a primary Soviet target. Pat Frank narrates how nations destroy each other and themselves using nuclear arms. Randy Bragg leads a small band of survivors to remake...