King of the road

"Released after a three-year stretch in a mental institution, Royston Blake finds that the world has moved on, even Mangel. Gone are most of his old haunts, including Hoppers, where he spent years working the door. In its place: a huge, gleaming new shopping mall, servicing the town's every consumer need. But not everyone is happy to see the old ways swept aside. A mysterious opposition group calling itself the 'Old Guard' has made its mission abundantly clear on the letters page of the local newspaper, and soon sets about trying to recruit Blake as its agent of retribution. Meanwhile, Blake just wants to settle down with his girl, Sal, and get to know the son he never met. But old habits are hard to break ..."--P. [4] of cover.