The arrival of two American mercenaries in the Amazon rainforest triggers a volatile collision between indigenous Niaruna tribes and the encroaching forces of modern civilization.

Lewis Moon, a disillusioned pilot of Native American descent, and Wolfie, a cynical soldier of fortune, find themselves caught in the crossfire of missionaries, government officials, and corporate interests. As they navigate the dense, unforgiving terrain, they must reconcile their own personal agendas with the survival of a tribe threatened by disease and exploitation. The narrative framework utilizes a third-person perspective to examine the psychological disintegration of the characters as they confront the limits of their own morality in a rapidly changing environment.

Discussion often centers on the stark contrast between the natural world and the destructive nature of human intervention. Readers frequently highlight the author's ability to maintain a sense of dread as the characters descend into moral chaos. Critics often point to the dense, descriptive prose that captures the sensory overload of the rainforest setting. The narrative is noted for its refusal to provide easy answers regarding the ethics of the characters' actions. Many readers find the exploration of cultural displacement to be a significant and enduring element of the work.