When his girlfriend has an accident and he is on the verge of falling into a deep hole, Edgar Bendler decides to flee to Hiddensee - the legendary island that has served as a refuge for many castaways. He becomes a dishwasher at the Klausner, a pub high above the sea, and meets Alexander Krusowitsch - Kruso. A difficult, tender friendship begins. Kruso, the master and island mentor, initiates Ed into the rituals of seasonal workers and the laws of their nights. Gradually, the secrets of the island and the Klausner are revealed to him. Just when Ed believes he has found a place in life again, the autumn of '89 shakes the fragile fabric of the island's inhabitants. In the end, there is a fight for life and death - and a promise. An island adventure and the story of an extraordinary friendship - Lutz Seiler's award-winning novel draws a connection.