Synopsis: The key to the universe lies in finding the ruins of the long-vanished race known as the Earlies and deciphering the glyphs they left behind - a code that holds the secrets of a technology far beyond anything humans have yet achieved. For An, born into poverty on one of the outer worlds, prospecting for these ruins is a chance at a fortune and a life of independence. But when An finally links up with an employer who is ready to give her the RNA drip enabling her to understand and Early glyphs she finds, she suddenly comes up against overwhelming obstacles. Betrayed by both the company that hired her and the man she loves, An must escape deadly alien prospectors and struggle to unlock the incredible treasure just within her grasp - before the RNA drip permanently alters her mind beyond reclaiming.... (from the back cover of the Roc Books first edition)