Bjorn Esterday, investigative reporter, is trapped listening to the mad, tedious boasts of Skipper Courtly, the new ruler of Courtly City. Later, Sarah Paradise, school teacher, shares her fears about Courtly Corporation information which has come into her possession. The Courtly Corporation learns that Sarah Paradise has unique skills which they can exploit. Sarah is pressured to cooperate, but all she wants to do is complete her work and get back to teaching. The requirements of this new assignment, however, puts her into deadly circumstances. What will Skipper Courtly do about the broken string?