The Serpent Class Courier, Adder, is sent to Olgana to deliver mail to the Federation Survey Service base. Originally a lost colony Olgana is now inhabited by an intelligent race but still situated well off the main Galactic trade routes. With the crew given shore leave, Grimes goes on holiday with Spooky Deane, the ship's psionic communications officer, to the continent of Nevernever. They meet two Australian school teachers also on vacation and visit Cragge Rock, the largest monolith in known space. 'During a demonstration of native dance, Deane and the school teachers are overcome by their racial memories, claiming they have the blood of the "Old Ones" in them. What Grimes comes to realise far too late is that Cragge Rock isn't what it appears to be...
