391 AD: Fanatics destroy the greatest storehouse of knowledge and treasure in the ancient world - the mighty library and museum of Alexandria. But a few conspirators secretly remove its most precious items and hide them deep in a specially excavated stronghold... 1991 AD: A UN plane, with the Secretary-General aboard, crashes in the icy waters of Greenland, brought down by a murderous conspiracy. And trouble-shooter Dirk Pitt is drawn into a deadly battle, against the darkest forces of international terrorism, that could reshape the balance of world power forever.