Tim Boerhave, lecturer in philosophy, loses his legs in a bomb attack. Who is the perpetrator? The last image before the explosion is of a large black dog with a sardine can on his collar, jumping up against the kitchen door. For Tim, the question of the perpetrator is less urgent than the question of why. No one claimed the attack. He can think of no reason why he was chosen as the target. While his house is being rebuilt, he and his family retire to a quiet family hotel to rehabilitate. Day and night he locks himself in his hotel room. He is obsessed with mapping out what preceded the explosion that fateful morning. Who is the perpetrator? Why is Tim the victim?