Goto, an island formed after an earthquake in the 19th century has been cut off from the mainstream of social progress and survives as a totalitarian world of concrete corridors, iron trapdoors and observation towers. The tiny, population, ruled by the Govemor, works in stone quarries just outside the fortress. Criminals are subjected to trial by combat. Grozo is a little man who is pitted against a big o' for some offence, but he runs away to hide his head in the lap of the Governor's beautiful wife. She takes pity on him and he is pardoned. ` set to work as apprentice to the island dog-keeper, flycatcher and boot-polisher. He is in love with the Governor's wife, who is herself in love with the officer in charge of the riding stables, but Grozo sets out to better himself…