The far distant future beyond 2150, beyond the climate apocalypse, beyond dystopian aftershock, in a decayed world stagnating from boredom and corruption, far out beyond civilisation the Crop Masters work incessantly to maintain food supplies.

The protective high wall around the metropolis, built to protect the crops not the people, has been undermined by weather and lack of repairs. Holes begin to appear beneath it as the foundations wash away, and children start crawling out to play in the bush.

Who are these children? Over a long period eventually their children, and then their grandchildren come out to play, until the first of them are now parents and grand-parents.

Mike Barker finds himself with a serious problem on his hands, no longer able to guarantee food security as this naïve new hybrid population unknown to anybody finds its relentless way out onto the prohibited grain-belt.

Something ancient stirs . . .