Marid Audran has become everything he once despised. Not so long ago, he was a hustler in the Budayeen, an Arabian ghetto in a Balkanized future Earth. Back then, as often as not, he didnt have the money to buy himself a drink. But he had his independence. Now Marid works for Friedlander Bey, godfather of the Budayeen, a man whose power stretches across a shattered, crumbling world. During the day, Marid is a policeman . . . and Beys personal envoy to the police. His new position has brought him money and power which he would abandon in a moment if he could return to a life of neither owning nor being owned. Which, unfortunately, isnt one of his options. Its also not an issue. For something dark is afoot. Something is sending the city into chaos. Its helping a child-mutilator to avoid arrest. Sending a killer to murder Marids partner. Its murdering prostitutes and savaging their remains. Signs point to the hand of Abu Adil the one man in the city whose power rivals Friedlander Beys. Whatever happens next, its not going to be good news for Marid Audran . . . .