Clementine Fargar, a 17-year-old Seattle high school student, is forced to leave school for a time following the death of her parents and trouble with her eyes. She goes to to live with her older brother, Dave, on Whidby Island, part of the beautiful, mysterious Puget Sound with its Indian-haunted islands. Even though he's only two years older than her, Dave Farger is the superintendent of a black powder repository. Little did Clem suspect her and her brother's lives would soon be turned upside down when an unknown enemy begins to make trouble. Who is the elusive Man in the Fishmask, and what is he up to?