 Timid Mr Curtin cycles below sea level to begin his first day at work at the mysterious Ministry. He s determined to succeed and so prove himself worthy of the beautiful Miss Kennedy. But when he s waylaid by a sinister colleague, Grieves, Mr Curtin starts to realise how little he really knows about what goes on at the Ministry. Mr Curtin is drawn into a disturbing game in which his hopes become playthings for the malign Grieves.