Summary

The novel is set in the present, in an unnamed developing country. The country was recently embroiled in a civil war between rebels and an established governmental regime. The protagonist works for a large company based in a different (also unnamed) country. The company has been hired to pave a road in the country that recently had a civil war. The government plans to have a parade to celebrate the new peace. The protagonist—who is referred to only by his work codename “Four”—is one of two men employed to perform the actual paving, using a high-tech paving machine. Four is a diligent and experienced worker, but his partner (referred to as “Nine”) is a new employee. Nine is gregarious and outgoing, but he does not seem interested in the work. When Four first meets Nine, Nine is with a local sex worker...