About a million years ago, the people of the Amaranthians, intelligent descendants of flightless birds, died on the planet Resurgem. This happened shortly after they mastered the technology of space travel. Archaeologist Dan Sylvest is ready to take any risk to unravel the secret of the disappearance of the Amaranthian civilization. Otherwise, the scientist is convinced, humanity spread across the planets may share its sad fate. As a result of the rebellion, Sylveste lost his assistants and resources, moreover, he was outlawed. Seeing no other means to achieve his goal, he uses blackmail to recruit the crew of the merchant starship Nostalgia for Infinity as allies. It seems like less of a risk would be to make a deal with the devil. Centuries-long wanderings in space, a constant struggle for survival, have turned these people into calculating mechanisms. They are ruthless, fearless and resourceful, and they are used to getting their way at any cost. And one of them, by the way, arrived on Resurgem with a secret order to kill Sylvest...