Set in an alternative New York, the quantum computing revolution has begun, and investors are lining their pockets. But building the network requires miles of infrastructure to be laid between huge magnetic cubes by “cablers”, a group of unprotected gig workers who have to compete against robots to pull wires over rough terrain. However, to support himself and his ailing younger brother, he scores a shady permit and starts cabling, hoping to finally change his fortunes. What he doesn’t expect is to be pulled into a conspiracy involving hostile fellow cablers, corporate greed and the mystery surrounding someone called Lapsis Beeftech, who may have previously owned his permit.