[1] The story concerns a geologist, Alex McAuliff, who served in the Army as an infantry officer and fought in Vietnam, is commissioned to undertake a survey in Jamaica.

It's an offer McAuliff just can't refuse: two million dollars for a geological survey of Jamaica's dark interior.

But British Intelligence knows and they've let Alex know a secret of their own: the last survey team sent to Jamaica by Dunstone vanished without a trace.

In common with other Ludlum novels the lead character discovers there is more to the deal than expected and McAuliff is enlisted by British Intelligence.

The story develops as McAuliff's resources and abilities are tested eventually leading him to a secret organisation hidden in the Jamaican mountains.