Emma's old friend, Paul Croft, returns from abroad to retire to Little Storping-in-the Swurf. Unfortunately, the village seems to be run along very strange lines. Threatened by yokels, Emma finds herself outnumbered.
The strange deaths of several astronomers, left bleached white, pose a problem. Whilst Steed joins the stargazers, Emma chases a bright light, and finds herself in the hot seat.