OK, the names Strand and Abigail have been rattling around the old noggin for a couple of days now and I think I've got something. Change Strand to stand as in The Stand, and Abigail to Abagail,as in Mother Abagail and there you go...a double reference to another post-apocalyptic story. Coincidence? Tip of the hat? Funny thing is that I really didn't care for The Stand all that much. I wonder how many other little bits are floating around in there?