Why does a highly developed civilization need sling shells and ballistae? What secret do the heavy stones and inconspicuous grasses of the Forbidden World hide? And why can’t the mighty Star Commonwealth Empire produce them on its own? Kidnapped earthlings are forced to uncover the mysteries of the strangest planet in the Galaxy, because their lives depend on it. But they are all just pawns in a protracted game, the purpose of which is to pave the way for one single person. The road to the Heart of the World...