In the ruins of Saint Louis, Lucio has been a Long Bottom Boy for as long as he can remember. He has scavenged. He has been hunted for food. He has eaten his fill of human prey. He has been both the abused and the abuser.

He's been okay with this.

One day he sees things differently. Can he stay? Can he leave? Where can he go? Who can he trust? Is there a place for him anywhere?

He does not know it but he is on his way to Smilodon Country.

Steven Popkes lives in Massachusetts on two acres of land where he and his wife garden, grow bananas and breed turtles. His day job consists of writing support software for space and ballistic systems. He insists he is not a rocket scientist. He is a rocket engineer.