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A former salesman living with one of the warring clans inside the ruined Mall of America decides he wants to be a father, goes on a dangerous expedition, and is rescued by a wild, mysterious girl. Augie Zackheim likes to look on the bright side of things. Even though he hasn't seen the sun in years, the lights in his home at the ruined Mall of America no longer work, the weather is always below freezing, and there's a hush all over the world. As the planet marches in the direction of zero his pals can't understand why he's an optimist. But why not? He has a roof over his head, food on his plate, a gorgeous nurse he has to share with only one other guy, and a plan. Oh, sure, work is sometimes a drag, what with the constant pressure to bring home scavenged car batteries and compete for scraps with the clan living on the other side of the Mall. But when a strange girl saves his life, and becomes the love of his life, he knows that everything's going to turn out right and the sun will shine again.