John Hunter and his chief are blissfully unaware that what seems to be a straightforward lesson in retribution has been carefully staged by Makepeace's devious mind, working a dozen moves ahead of the game. If his comprehensive plans come to fruition, not only would world stability be destroyed, probably forever, but the chances of atomic war breaking out would increase exponentially. Hunter believes he has a chance of stopping the megalomaniac mountain of flesh, unaware that he is watched every step of the way, and is destined to be the final, mangled bugle that blows in Makepeace's honour.