It is the turn of the twentieth century and a British astronomer, Thayer, high o
n Darwin and other progressive scientists of the age, arrives in Egypt to embark
on the project of a lifetime: the excavation of a triangle in the desert, with
sides hundreds of miles long, to be filled with petrol and set alight. The purpo
se: to send out a signal to life on Mars (for which he has evidence) that humans
exist. But as work progresses, the huge task force of Egyptian workers is struc
k by disease and rebellion, and the success of Thayer's project looks increasing
ly uncertain.
