Helen Small is journalist at the largest news organization in the Republic of Texas, and a survivor. Seven years after a plague has culled humanity in half, the Republic is falling into a totalitarian state. Survivors -- the few who contracted the virus and survived -- are being vilified by William Chaste, the new Administrator of the Republic. An army of Chaste's zealots has taken on the ''patriotic'' call of protecting the Republic from survivors, who they believe -- based upon false information from Chaste -- are still spreading the plague. When a mob of supporters murder a survivor, Helen finds herself in an increasingly hostile atmosphere as she attempts to uncover the truth and expose Chaste's lies. All the while, she struggles with her own guilt at having survived the plague that killed both her husband and son. Amidst all of the bleakness she meets Francisco Stiles, an artist from the barrio in Denver who offers her a chance at a real life -- and love.