Stringer, an unsociable drifter, joins an expidition to a world called Patra-Bannk (Freeze-Bake). The expedition's leader seeks a treasure of metallic hydrogen, of which there is evidence from a previous trip to the planet. Patra-Bannk is at least 50 times the size of Earth, six hundred thousand kilometers across, and its slow rotation rate results in extreme weather, alternating between freezing cold "nights" (Patras) lasting up to six (Earth) months during which the sun never rises and steaming hot "days" (Bannks) during which the sun never sets for a similar number of months.The planet's current inhabitants are human-like, but with six fingers on each hand and with skin that darkens and lightens dramatically as the weather changes. They are divided into semi-barbaric groups with historical enmity toward one another.There are local legends of an ancient people called the Polkraitz who lived on Patra-Bannk centuries ago and had much more advanced technology than is currently available. They left, but are prophesied to return when two of the traditional calendar systems coincide - an event known as the Golun-Patra that occurs once every 96 (Earth) years. The upcoming Golun-Patra is the twelfth Golun-Patra, which gives it added significance.Stringer encounters a tribe that includes a scientist, or Time Keeper, named Alhane, who believes that the world is round, but the planet's size makes it difficult to prove. Stringer assists Alhane's investigation, but also realizes that a planet so large should have much higher gravity. He recognizes that there are more secrets to be uncovered about the origin and nature of Patra-Bannk, and the expedition becomes a race to save the planet from its own deterioration.
