The Party: The Passing of Shadows

Why does a neo-agnostic Buddhist monk turn himself into the leader of a Country-western band? He seems to be playing a subversive role. He goes by four names: Marty, a band leader, the Maitreya a name he detests, the Overseer, and Just a Guy In spite of his desire for only ordinary celebrity, he finds himself eventually in contest with vast sinister forces. The issue is resolved only on the Dakota plains where two gigantic armies face each other. One of them is devastated with a secret weapon. The other enjoys a humane triumph.