The distant future. The universe is, naturally, divided into two camps: the communists and the rest. The rest harbour sinister plans. Four are sent to thwart the machinations of the imperialists: Uma, an Indian girl descended from the untouchable caste; the pygmy Yul; the Russian Anton Polynov; and Jent Liu Banga, playing the role of an ageing chimandre. They become the quarry in a hunt in the most literal sense of the word, but help arrives from an unexpected quarter...