1996, egypt. Searching for a treasure on the nile, dirk pitt thwarts the attempted assassination of a beautiful u.n. Scientist investigating a disease that is driving thousands of north africans into madness, cannibalism...1996, egypt. Searching for a treasure on the nile, dirk pitt thwarts the attempted assassination of a beautiful u.n. Scientist investigating a disease that is driving thousands of north africans into madness, cannibalism, and death. The suspected cause of the raging epidemic is vast, unprecedented pollution that threatens to extinguish all life in the world's seas.