[1] Sklar Hast, the protagonist, had achieved a measure of success and prosperity by passing his examination to be a "Hoodwink", or semaphore tower operator – a prestigious position on the Blue World, a planet with no land at all.

During the space of twelve generations, the descendants of a crashed prison ship have created a rudimentary civilization on the water-covered planet, living on huge sea plants.

It drives off other kragen in return for offerings of food organized by an entrenched quasi-religious priesthood built up over generations.

When Sklar questions the need to continue to worship and feed this predator, King Kragen appears, wrecks his home and kills his mentor.

Rather than regard this as divine punishment, Sklar suspects that the conservative priesthood has enough control over King Kragen to kill those who oppose their views, and to thus uphold their privileged status.