After the plague, most of us are dead. Some of us aren't behaving very well. But we can still have a laugh, can't we?
Billie is a dollywaggler. and somewhat strange. Not as strange as the London she finds herself in after the Eppie, or flu pandemic - dodging a few feral survivors, and learning some bizarre new rituals. Her friend Sally's not much help either - she was a nurse until the hospital's triage system broke down, and now she sings and does unpleasant things to get food.
In this fractured world, loathsome creatures like the ex-banker Rodney are indulging their unspeakable appetites.
But Billie's lucky, she never meets him - she's on her way to Suffolk, en route accidentally joining the dismal harem of Dave, the Sultan of Saxmundham, and stopping briefly at Paradise Farm where a bunch of gentle, caring hippies try and coax her to cry. Unsuccessfully.
Her final destination is Southwold, where she used to do puppet shows on the beach. A sentimental journey? Not at all. She's hoping to find her old dollywaggling partner and give him the punishment he so richly deserves.