Hard-bitten 'eighties' provincial newspaper reporter Baz Parker has just three weaknesses: wine, women and... birdsong. When the keen ornithologist is sent to investigate Government plans for a missile base on marshland outside the village of Sedgemarsh his journalistic objectivity is soon replaced with conservationist zeal as he helps set up a local protest group to oppose this threat to an ancient, unique wildlife habitat. Photographer colleague Angie Barlow, meanwhile, has just one weakness - Baz. Unfortunately he doesn't appear to notice her. So, although not sharing his anti-development views she offers superficial support to his campaign. Although workers start draining the Marshes before the protest group has time to mobilise, everything comes to a halt when a horrific discovery is made. But a resulting forensic investigation provides only temporary respite, and work soon resumes. Then several workers are injured during a subsequent explosion. Sabotage is suspected, and things turn violent between contractors and protestors. During the scuffle Baz is injured and hospitalised. So Angie is left to single-handedly pursue answers to some disturbing questions that apparently have little to do with her commissioned investigation. What has been going on at night, out on the marshes? What is the role of the sinister character Jackman? Why are many village folk behaving so oddly? And what is the truth about the Whitethorne Legend? As she uncovers a dangerous web of intrigue and corruption she soon finds that her life is in danger, and the previous sceptic realises that her only hope of survival - as well as the area's future security and prosperity - lies in the Legend itself. But what has become of Baz, meanwhile? Will he recover from his injuries in time to work on the story? And will he ever see Angie as anything more than just a colleague?