At the end of the 19th century, the world seems to be gaining a new center, far removed from its previous hubs: In Panama, the farthest tip of Colombia, a canal is being built to connect the world's oceans. France and the United States rush to this location, which until then was known only for its dreadful climate and countless tropical diseases. Here, Europe and the USA vie for wealth and power. But not only world politics, Joseph Conrad, the seafaring novelist, also discovers this place for himself. Was he inspired by the history of Colombia and the construction of the Panama Canal for his novel Nostromo? Competing with him is José Altamirano, a native Colombian, whose life amidst disasters and political upheavals forms a tragicomic counterpoint to that of the world-famous writer. Altamirano, who feels guilty.