Mars is a desolate world Largely forgotten by Earth the planet remains helpless in the stranglehold of Arnie Kott who as boss of the plumber's union has a monopoly over the vital water supply Arnie Kott is obsessed by the past; the native Bleekmen poverty-stricken wanderers can see into the future; while to Manfred an autistic boy time apparently stops When one of the colonists Norbert Steiner commits suicide the repercussions are startling & bizarre