The time has come when man reaches the peaks of achievement promised by science. All the functions on Earth are now controlled by the World Machine, which is programmed to maintain the World Pattern indefinitely. Thus mankind has at last achieved immortality, kept alive for ever by the World Machine.

This system has survived now for many thousands of years. Perhaps in order in maintain a residual meaningfulness for human life in the World Pattern, slots are provided in the various tasks undertaken by the World Machine for human involvement, when individuals are revived in order to go through a series of routines from time to time.

One such routine is the periodic war between the North and the South. Gorj is the Leader of the South and he has performed this ritual on many occasions over the millennia. But now there has been a slight accident with a Northern craft and Gorj is instructed to help the pilot of the craft who has been injured. It is the first direct contact between human beings since they became immortal.

The outcome is devastating. Gorj's behaviour become more and more erratic. Symer, the World Agent, whose task it is to maintain order among the human Immortals, in turn becomes disturbed as he tries to counteract the shocking effects Gorj has on other Immortals. In time Symer's conditioning breaks down completely, which permits the awakening of the one power that mankind cannot completely control, memory – and its truths.