HilarionZabala,aformermastersergeant,istormentedbyastrangesmell.Thediagnosisisphantosmia,i.e.olfactoryhallucinations,whereheperceivessmellsthatdonotactuallyexist.Hisdoctorattributesthistopasttraumaandrecommendsthatheconfrontandrecallhisdarkmilitaryserviceperiodasasolution.Zabala,willingtotakeonanytask,voluntarilyvisitsamilitarybaseandiseventuallyassignedtoaremoteislandpenalcolony.However,anotherhorrificrealityawaitshimthere.
Fromreligiousbloodshedtohumanrightsabusesagainstwomen,thevariousformsofviolencecreatedbyhumansarestillstructurallyandroutinelypervasive.Howcanjusticeandsalvationbeachievedinanageofviolence?Canviolenceusedtopreventviolenceeverbejustified?Deepanguishisreflectedthroughthecontemplativeblack-and-whiteimagery.(BOOKyunghwan)
