Clayton, a ne'-er-do-well notorious among the townies for his devotion to pornographic movies on the satin channel. Suddenly without warning, he asks to be called "Titus" and appears to possess prophetic gifts (though in a trivial way), which win him fame and popularity. But what is it he is drawing on his chimney, and how can he possibly know about "satstrugi"? And, with his newfound powers, can be help in the search for a missing child? Deputy Ray Tatum unravels the mystery of Clayton's condition. Aided by his sometime girlfriend, Kit Carson, he follows the story to its surprising end in Antarctica as he deals with the crimes and follies of his own small town in Virginia.