Othon XVIII, Chief Rat of Ratona, is in trouble. Drought has left his archipelago realm high and dry, and vulnerable to attack from the perfidious cats. But the same wind that has brought the drought now carries over the mountains a balloonist whose talents may save Othon’s kingdom. Alfred A. Brussel is an architect from the enchanted land of Nebraska. He is in flight from savage, marauding beasts called creditors. King Othon has never heard of creditors, nor indeed architects. Architecture, Brussel explains, is the art of enticing the gods, which is what Othon needs, whose God has deserted him. And no wonder, says Brussel, with such a puny, miserable temple to call home. King Othon decides not to sacrifice Brussel until he sees what the man can do for him.

High in her remote alpine fastness, the imperious and haughty Cat Queen hears outrageous reports of the marvellous new temple of the rats. This is a brazen insult to her own Goddess. Katerina decides that she too must use Brussel’s services. Can she, however, afford the splendid edifice he designs for her?

In a land where the immortals are as greedy, vain and jealous as their devotees, a disgruntled god can mean the fall of a kingdom. Thus the rival sovereigns become locked in a fevered contest to out–build each other. The loser may incur divine disfavour, while the victor could wind up bankrupt. Perhaps only Brussel, collecting fees from both sides, will be winner in the end.

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