Decades ago, a quartet of advocates-Darren, Purcell, Nesbitt, and Juliette-came to Elard to share their messages of spiritual and social uplift with the planet's primitive, fractious natives. Under the scorching rays of Elard's fiery sun, their friendship dissolved into illicit affairs and an unexplained disappearance. Darren returns to Elard for one final mission. In only thirty days, he must solve mysteries buried in the planet's vast desert-and hidden in a woman's heart. Enter a compelling, alien world of power and corruption, wonder and terror, love and death.