Magda of Ferrin and her husband Armin of Pothrin are on their way to the Sunset Ocean. Magda's been promised the Sunset Ocean and she is going to get there no matter what. To that end, she's accepted a load bound for points west, including the desert town Riverside. But her buyer never did turn up and so she's headed for Riverside without him. Traveling in a train headed west, they meet a man on a humpless camel, who drops all manner of tempting hints about Magda's family.

Getting to Riverside is one thing, but getting on the road after that? An entirely different set of circumstances!

Will the camel rider ever actually explain himself? Will Magda and all those traveling with her survive an attack? Will Magda make it through this pitiless desert, full of enemies and sorely lacking in resources?