THEY THOUGHT THEY WORSHIPPED THE WORD. THEY THOUGHT THEY CRAVED POWER. THEY FOUND ONLY EMPTINESS.Australia, 1802. A disgraced British spy, Alister Fane-Courtenay, forces his children-young Ezra and Livia-on a deadly mission. They must infiltrate the heart of the English colony and steal an ancient manuscript, the Codex Mentis, which holds the secrets to controlling the human mind.But what begins as a sophisticated espionage operation turns into a journey into the heart of darkness. They discover they are pawns in a war that has been waged for centuries. A secret order, the "Psammoi," has long since turned humanity into an obedient flock by seeding language itself with parasitic words that kill free will: "duty," "fate," "fatherland."To survive, they must use every trick of spycraft their father taught them: from reading microexpressions to manipulating conflict. But their greatest battle awaits not against library guards, but within their own minds, which may no longer belong to them.This is not just a thriller-it is a stress test for your very reality.Inside you will find: Real 19th-century spycraft and NLP techniques.A profound philosophical parable on the nature of power and freedom.A gripping plot with chases, betrayals, and intrigue.A unique atmosphere of colonial Australia.An unpredictable ending that will make you reconsider everything you've read.Perfect for fans of: Umberto Eco, The Books of Ash by Tantliter, the films of Christopher Nolan, and the series Stranger Things in a setting of historical realism.Dare to discover who is really pulling the strings.