A series of powerful earthquakes on the west coast simultaneously triggered a volcanic catastrophe destroying most cities, along with its population. Infrastructure, highways, telephone lines all destroyed. The president proposed a referendum to rebuild the West but was voted down by the East Beus lives in the west. Wearing protective creams and special clothing, like all the others, Beus is tormented, barely surviving with his empty emotive compass. Life is controlled by the self-imposed ZooCoo The Crying Body, an unusual species, arriving from thin air, assists pro-creation and child...