A historical and satirical novel whose principal character is an American adventurer who suddenly turns up in a Maya community in the highlands of western Guatemala. Apart from the impact that he causes in the community by his strange customs and his very presence, the stranger also learns the customs and the traditions of Yulwitz, which maintain the unity of the community. Lighthearted in tone, this novel nonetheless reflects some of the most serious concerns of the Maya in recent decades, and gives us a unique insight into their culture.