James Tadworthy lives in a post-holocaust society in which there are no wars, no crime, no pollution, no disease, and no work. Everyone seemingly lives in perfect harmony with their tamed environment. Additionally, all knowledge is controlled by the Shepherds, a group that selflessly dedicates their lives to humanity's welfare and best interests.

But when James finds out the Shepherds' shocking and closely-guarded secret, he discovers that beneath the surface of his peaceful community is a world of violence and intrigue. Launched on a dangerous quest through a labyrinth of underground passages, James learns that the mysterious Third Seal is an airlock to the place of hidden learning from the past. Will their idyllic lives be changed forever by the truth?