Content Warning: The Transall Saga includes enslavement, including enslavement of the protagonist. The protagonist briefly mentions race and bigotry as reasons for the conflict between groups.

Thirteen-year-old Mark Harrison is a hiking enthusiast. His parents have allowed him to backpack alone across the Magruder Missile Range; however, his mother threatens to call the National Guard if Mark doesn’t reach their allocated meeting place on the other side of the range within the week.

After his third day of hiking, Mark is preparing to sleep when he suddenly sees a flaming ball of fire streak across the sky and land. He goes to investigate. The ball is gone, replaced with a bright beam of blue-white light, which seems to be projected onto the ground from above. Mark approaches it, taking pictures; the inside of the tube of light is filled with colors. Suddenly, he is bitten by a snake. He jumps back in fright, and falls into the beam of light.

Mark opens his eyes, confused and disorientated. His surroundings resemble an unfamiliar jungle, the air humid and shadowy. The leaves of the thick trees are red and rubbery; the rain that begins to fall is bitter tasting. Although Mark can’t see any puncture marks from his snake bite, he assumes he must be hallucinating.