Book excerpt: Melody Shine, a female immortal, seeking lasting human companionship, spiritual love, wishes to give birth to a human child. In order to accomplish this she takes on the form of an android and joins a team of scientists aboard an exploration vessel. Near to the end of the journey they discover a million year-old pyramid on the moon of a desolate planet. Disobeying all the rules concerning alien artefacts they remove an ancient sarcophagus and load it on board their vessel; Melody is unable to prevent the following carnage.