[1] The story weaves a fantasy into everyday life, but for the most part it is confined to Charlie's dreams (and later, her perception of the waking world).

After the high adventures of Buried Fire, I was interested in a more low-key and subtle investigation of how fantasy and reality collide.

The book is split between the perspectives of Charlie, who believes something strange has happened, and her brother James, who doesn’t.

At the beginning of the story, Charlie witnesses the drowning at a mill pool of her best friend, Max.

Her memories of the events are fanciful, involving a vision of Max in the water, being kidnapped by strange women with bright green eyes.

Her doctor, Peter Andover, believes these memories are the cause of asphyxiation (from being under water), for the restriction of blood to the brain may induce visual disturbance, such as prolonged dreamlike hallucinations.

Then Kit emerges from the crowds watching the dance and tells Charlie it isn't too late.

Everyone around her loses their beauty, disintegrate and scream in anger, Kit the loudest amongst them, but now Max has let go of Charlie's hand freed from the dance.

He also once wakes Charlie before she tastes a fruit that would grant her desire, and takes her to Max.

Later, James discovers his sister's dream journal where Charlie writes about her hunt for Max.

[2] Kit is a tall, thin man with curly brown hair and green eyes who Charlie befriends in one of her dreams where she searches for Max.