The brutal assassination of the Director of Population Equalization thrusts his assistant Roy Walton into the most sinister position of authority on Earth. Walton is faced with problems of cosmic proportions... How can he deal with the mass revolt against Popeek's resettlement and euthanasia programmes? Will the interstellar mission X-72 return with hope for a new Earth? And how can Walton finally silence his embittered, jealous brother who shares his two darkest secrets? One could cripple Popeek for a long time to come. The other would destroy Walton. For ever...