Matriarchy has reigned on Ohrmazd for centuries. The Queen is the only one in the Community who has the right to bear children and maintains a harem of male drones. The rest of the women are non-functional and are considered workers of the middle class. Airod is a worker. She is attracted by the secrets of the past and ancient fossils. She is friends with the drone Antis, but he is threatened by the Purge. But when an expedition from Earth arrives on Ohrmazd, Airod has a chance not only to save her friend, but also to overturn the foundations of the entire planet.