The story is set in Post WW2 Edinburgh. Craig Erskine, a 70-year-old Scottish-born Australian, has made the first return journey to his birthplace since leaving for Australia in 1958. It was while living at number 356 Easter Road Leith, that he experienced a close call with death and a family betrayal. An International Welfare Organisation that exists, in reality, today was then the target of a politically clandestine incident that became an instant Government Secret and was learned anecdotally by the author
Alenti Pawloswski is a returned Polish soldier who fought with the British Army and contributed much to the allied victory but received little recompense or basic welfare or gratitude , once the conflict ended. In a creative use of historical fiction, the author brings Pawloswski and Erskine together in a terrifying incident outside number 356 Easter Road Leith. ( which also remains today)
The allied victory lay uneasily upon Europe and the impositions laid on some countries by the victors, sowed the seeds of political unrest that are flourishing almost a century later. While he was residing at number 356, as a child, Craig befriended a former soldier in the Australian army, who also contributed to the allied cause in World War One. Old Mac was injured at Anzac Cove and it was through him that a young Craig learned about how the Army dealt with those whom they believed were traitors and deserters. This had an enormous impact on young Erskine and his e relationship with his father. At the book's end, Craig returns to Australia quite emotionally 'battle weary' as though he had experienced another major conflict.
