Tutsyrola is an island, located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is famous because it lies along the path of the the ancient Copra Road. It is not a tropical paradise. On the contrary, it is best described as a treeless, rock strewn desert. The central part is actually the bowl of an almost active volcano, the rim of which rises on all sides, separating it from the nearby Cuttlefish Sea, and from its neighbors, barely visible from the peaks on the distant horizon.

Tutsyrola is an unlucky little place. It has been unlucky for centuries. Its misfortune is that it has not escaped the notice of various maritime adventurers, who consider its hot and dusty wastes strategically important. Possession of the island has been contested by one neighbor after another, much to the distress of the natives, who, to a man, woman and child, embrace a religion of peace and tranquility.

The people of Tutsyrola are divided into tribes, each governed by a patriarchial chief. Each tribe has its own territory, only loosely defined, but jealously defended. When disputes arise, the resulting warfare can be fierce. The wars between tribes are made more interesting (and complicated) by the intervention of the neighbors, and also by the powerful weapons introduced by the major world powers who wish to change the regime to one more favorable to their economic interests.

The customs of the people of Tutsyrola are somewhat engrained, and have not changed appreciably for centuries. The basic laws are simple, and there are few taboos. But what taboos there are, are just that, taboos ... proscribed behaviour. The taboos have been in force since time immemorial, as are the other customs, and the prospect for innovation is modest.

The major powers think a change of regime will alter the accustomed way of handling local affairs, especially government and business policy. The change of regime theory is not well defined, but basically it is the belief that if the chief is removed, and another chief installed in his place, all will be fine in Tutsyrola. The application of the theory withers when put into practice. While the chief can be readily disposed of, it is not so easy to get the people to change THEIR ways. When the new chief begins to issue new and strange rules, trying to accommodate the desires of the people who installed him, the people simply kill him.

It is a frustrating matter for the powerful nations. After great expense, and loss of life, they are hated and unwelcome. In spite of every effort to win the hearts and minds of the people of Tutsyrola, mainly by giving out blankets to the survivors whose homes have been bombed, and distributing candy to the children, the effort is a failure. The child soon discovers who killed his father and mother, uncle and aunt, grandfather and grandmother, brothers and sisters. The candyman did it. These smiling soldiers, they are the killers.

The story of the massacre at the wedding feast lingers on, and the people remember how their relatives were burned to death when the soldiers giving out blankets and candy set fire to the building. They said they were told rats were in building, and the killing of the innocent guests was a mistake. But it was not the first time such a thing had happened, and the children are unconvinced. For the moment, they smile and take the candy, but in their hearts and minds they vow that the deaths will someday be avenged.

To kill innocent people is taboo in Tutsyrola.