SYNOPSIS:

They've always been here. Two interrelated races of off-planet peoples that live a separate but conjoined life amongst human beings. Their credo is to mind not manage human beings, providing options for a better way. One of the groups, are the gardeners. In charge of tending plants important for their survival. They are short dark people living in tropical climes, blending in doing simple work, tending the plants waiting the call. They are immensely strong deeply religious people having as their spiritual concern the beating heart of all living things. Something they call Eriborn. The other group are tall spindly people, changing sex at least once in their lives, finding their fatelines, and transferring, [as they call it.] They attach themselves to the artistic nature of the activities of human beings. Saving what is important in a vast underground library, full of the essence of what has gone before. Many of these people are not aware of their heritage. When they change they begin again in a very real way. Their foes are not aware of the existence of either off planet race. Their minds and their bodies are bent on one purpose, their own survival, and the physical control of all things. There are several loose alliances within this group. They control crime of all the usual sorts and they trade body parts internationally selling to the highest bidder. Warring with each other one minute, and forming loose alliances the next. They are among the world’s most wealthy men, and they all live for a very long time, intending to become immortal, waiting for the day. Their scientists are close to this most holy of grails. Close. And they must be stopped. Nothing can stand in their way; they are the fulcrum of power on the planet. Enter Seifert Grain an international stamp dealer and collector of primitive artefacts. Unaware of his origins except that he has strange dreams and a female voice in his head that lectures him as to his responsibilities. He doesn’t think this strange it has always been so. And he is a little strange anyway so it all make perfectly good sense. Seifert has nothing if he doesn’t have good sense. But of course nothing is as it appears, and as events will show, there will come a final showdown. At risk is the future of the planet and the whole human race.