The eruption/explosion of Krakatoa could be heard thousands of miles away. Islands were flooded, ships and seaports destroyed. The volcanic ash and dust thrown into the air caused crop failures and a bone-chilling winter. Throughout the world, people panicked, blaming gods or devils for their troubles. The vampire Saint-Germain, trading peacefully in Asia, is as threatened as anyone by the eruption. Starving humans cannot be tapped for their blood; women living in fear of the supernatural rarely welcome vampire lovers; and wealthy foreigners are easy targets. With hunger gnawing at his breast, Saint-Germain and his faithful manservant, accompanied by a female shaman and her nomadic tribe, make their way slowly toward Europe, hoping to find safety in the West.