In a region of modern Greek province, the protagonist of the novel - a Greek who lived for many years in central Africa - arrives and buys a plot of land outside a village. The estate consists of three small hills, arid and dry. He settles there and applies his unorthodox and strange method of extracting water. Naturally, this arouses curiosity and later the warm interest of two women, employees of the Ministry of Agriculture, who that summer stay in a neighboring house of the service. He is also observed by the priest and the mayor of the nearby village with reservation and suspicion about his method.

The development of events will lead to uncontrollable situations that will prove the hero's efforts futile or fruitful in the long run. At the same time, they will fill us with doubts and questions about his true nature.