Last year, Alan Reece, an unassuming animal doctor from the West Country, was surprised to discover that he had become the 'Conduit', a link between reality and the strange world beyond. Not even beginning to understand this, Alan deals with this problem as he deals with most in his life - he ignores it. Unfortunately, ripples from his unwitting transformation have freed a dark and terrible creature from its improbable prison. Burrowing into the past, it plots revenge from Ancient Britain, and only Earth's reluctant Conduit has any chance of stopping it.Now Alan and his friends - a medium-turned-physicist, and a self-confessed 'bum' - are wishing that they paid a little more attention during Roman history lessons at school, and Alan is realising that if he doesn't face up to his unwanted legacy soon, it could be the end for all of them.