The novel begins with the final report of an investigation into the Tracking and Pursuit Department that states that in September 2005, Brigadier Majid, head of the Tracking and Pursuit Department, was questioned about the department’s activities. The committee states that it is not clear to what extent the department had been of use. Further, a number of files had been leaked to someone known as “the author”; however, the author was questioned and released, as he was in possession only of an unfinished manuscript copy of a story related to the files rather than the files themselves. The committee recommends reverting the Tracking and Pursuit Department to its original purpose of archiving and documentation, and as the identity given by “the author” was false, that he be rearrested for further questioning. 

An explosion takes place near Tayaran Square, just as Elishva (or Umm Daniel, “Daniel’s mother”) boards a bus to the Church of Saint Odisho, as she does every Sunday, though she doesn’t notice it as she sits on the bus. After mass on Sundays, Elishva speaks with her daughters in Australia on Father Josiah’s cell phone. However, for the second week in a row, Father Josiah is unable to reach them.