July 14, 1099. The city of Accra awaits the invasion of the crusaders who have surrounded the gates. Within the city walls, men and women have gathered to hear the words of a mysterious man known only as the Copt. They begin with questions about defeat and struggle, and they ultimately turn to questions of beauty, love, wisdom, and what the future holds. Now, centuries later, the manuscript containing the Copt's extraordinary insights has been unearthed from a cave in Cairo.