A novel about disease and forced-relocation. Political power seems to be solely in the hands of one Reverend Herman Hooker, an American Divine' who revels in the people's suffering as they are 'shifted' (separated from, and then randomly coupled with, one another) by decree every five years. There are up-shifts, down-shifts and side-shifts, but no attempt to make harmonious pairings. Chaos rages on as parasitic infestations spread and the Reverend rules with an iron fist from his headquarters, spouting platitudes to the ever-roving masses.'