Chapter 12 Summary

The Admiral's shortwave radio provides news from the outside world. More importantly his radio offers hope the world before The Day may return. In May a tube burns out and the hopeful lifeline is cut. Randy offers premium pay to replace it but there are no tubes available. Gas supply is low so recharging depleted batteries is not likely anyway. June is a month of plenty with ripening corn, sweet yams and sugar cane molasses to eat and new corn whiskey to taste before aging. The whiskey's high alcohol content is useful right away as antiseptic but not anesthetic. July begins a project for medical practice with hypnotism that Alice suggests Dan use for anesthesia. She reads to him to conserve his eyes in the dim light. Dan learns and practices on Helen and the others. Children are quick subjects but Randy and...