The events recounted herein begin in August of 2017 and take place in a world still coming to grips with the calamity of August 1991, a complete and thoroughgoing study of which may never be forthcoming. Happily, no prequel exists to the work you now have in hand. Interested readers merely need turn to the next and subsequent pages and read.

(Those interested in obtaining a modest understanding of the tragedy of 1991 are recommended to this author's work, "Murray Hill." - B.L. Slocum)