The subject of this novel is a 45-year-old introvert named Allen Meyers. For reasons unknown to him, he was separated from his parents as an infant and the subsequent years of his childhood were turbulent. Running away from a foster home at the age of ten, he found himself on a beach near Los Angeles. This remembered beach scene plagues him through adulthood and he believes that he is losing his mind. Allen never likes where he is at any time and always would rather be somewhere else, possibly the beach.
Seeking medical help for his condition, he is diagnosed as a Significant Telepath, resulting in him working for a secret agency within the U.S. government. His condition and his new occupation put Allen in dangerous situations concerning a nuclear device acquired by Al-Qaida. It seems things go from bad to worse for Allen Meyers, as one dangerous adventure leads to another.