Commissioned to carve a spirit mask for a mysterious stranger, Lucas Smoke finds his life controlled by disturbing nightmares of his client, an ancient sorcerer named Him Standing, who endeavors to emerge from the dream world.

"Thomas Wazhashk is the night watchman at the jewel bearing plant, the first factory located near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in rural North Dakota. He is also a Chippewa Council member who is trying to understand the consequences of a new "emancipation" bill on its way to the floor of the United States Congress. It is 1953 and he and the other council members know the bill isn't about freedom; Congress is fed up with Indians. The bill is a "termination"...