Colonization and exploration on a distant planet, Lumpo, has yielded a valuable new metal, Liptrite. Lightweight, shiny, and extremely strong, this new metal has brought both foundry mechanization and danger to the colony, as well as prosperity to the home world of Poppo. Death stalks the colony in the night. Nothing living outside in the dark hours can survive. Googles are everywhere. But where did they come from? What do they look like? No living being has encountered a Google and survived. They even eat each other when no prey can be found. Not even the native Gotoomps can recall the exact date that Googles were first reported. However, the arrival of the colonists seemed to predate the arrival of the uninvited killers. A young boy, Jo Hunnimuff, his family, and a friendly native Gotoomp uncover a secret that might pull the entire colony apart. Something has been buried in a remote area of the planet called the Nume Nock Area. It is policy in the colony to log any object that has been buried for tracing and protective purposes. However, no record exists for anything in the Nume Nocks. It is a remote and highly dangerous environment plagued with crystals and sharp sand spikes. Together, Jo and his Gotoomp friend Carddgo dig up the mysterious object. On the edge of the colony lies a swamp region with a mysterious stalk tower growing from its center. Swamp Grells and other creatures protect this area. Within the tower, live a young woman, Creeta, and a mysterious shrouded figure. These two practice the art of horticulture and have established a trade with the colony. No one has ever entered or been invited into the swamp tower. It is accepted by all as an off limits area. All except for one aggressive individual, Slernet Burtlebunker, who is adamant that she will build a tract of new colony homes in the swamp area while displacing Creeta. A fatal accident has occurred in Mine Number 3 while extracting the precious Liptrite ore