On an endless river surrounded by uninhabitable lands live a family of five: Father, Mother, twins Ulan and Ata, and the newborn Radhiya. Life on their boat is tough but manageable. The love they hold for each other carries them through any challenge they face. Until one day Father realizes a terrible truth: the boat is growing heavy. For the sake of his children, for the sake of his children's children, he must leave, he must jump into the river and drown so that his family might live. Just as his forefathers did before him. Just as fathers and mothers will continue to do for generations to come.
But the children are horrified by this. And in their horror, they set out to change the world. Yet, many dream of changing the world. Fewer succeed. And fewer still come to realize a different truth: that even if you should come to the twilight of your age yet continue on to see another sunrise...you're no less damned at dawn.
