Something's going on in the sleepy little sugarcane town ofHickory. A disturbing light shining down by the river. Two nasty roadaccidents, one after the other. Then Jack Sanders' mother is found dead onher living room floor, her face a mask of unspeakable terror. And no-one'sseen young Ainslie McGregor since he went off on a dare to meet his bestfriend at the local graveyard. Slowly, inexorably, communication with theoutside world breaks down, and Hickory becomes a Place to Fear.