Shango

On the distant world of Valaya, a patchwork colony of Caribbean settlers and a hint of Martian heritage clings to a fragile economy of sugar and tin. The planet’s primitive societies have been thrust into turmoil as coordinated raids sweep across the strait between its two continents, leaving the ruling authorities baffled by the uncanny precision of the attacks. The G.C.I.A. suspects a charismatic outsider, Bruschloss—known as “The Hog”—who has set up a trading hub in the remote village of Maru, may be pulling the strings.

Enter Arnold Koven, a seasoned field operative sent to untangle the mystery. With only a thin thread of official intelligence and a culture that communicates through drums and runners, he must navigate a world where technology is scarce but secrets run deep. As he steps off the shuttle into the bustling market of Maru, Koven realizes that uncovering the truth will demand more than brute force—it will require deciphering a language that has long eluded even the most seasoned analysts.