The story opens with an old man recalling a world-changing event from his youth. William Lead, a working-class young man, grows increasingly angry at social injustice and romantic betrayal. His relationship with Nettie becomes strained, leading him down a dark and violent path. As he pursues Nettie and her new lover, William becomes entangled in a personal and symbolic war. This part captures the chaotic world before the comet’s arrival with urgency and tension.
