In March 1305, a group of Australians and Americans arrive in medieval France. To be precise, they arrive in the Languedoc, near a village called Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert. The scientists want to save the world. Dr Artemisia Wormwood wants to save her sister. If she joins the time-travellers as their historian, her pay would cover treatment that might give her sister life. Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert is a desert of souls. Village, monastery, pilgrimage path, and legend; that's all there is. Perfect for scientists who have promised their work will not interfere with history. Those scientists have nine months and a dedication that defies reason. They won't tell Artemisia about their research. They don't want to hear her explanations about the world around them and about its people. Some of the scientists don't even want her there. Who needs an historian when the village looks like a gamer's dream? The villagers are disturbed by the strangers. Most of the strangers don't really care. Prepare for a bumpy ride with bad coffee.