"It was to be the trip of a lifetime. Yet what lay in store would change them forever." Friendship, hedonism and wanderlust compel Mancunians Conrad, Rob, Will and Paul to visit the US at a confusing time. With the Iraq war petering out and the prospect of a recession about to break their trip culminates in the dark heart of New Mexico where primeval traditions and internecine disuptes rage on. Their sanitised view of American culture: poker, hot dogs and skyscrapers -- is replaced with horrific ancient rituals and the kidnap of one of their number. To save him the others must win big in Vegas. . .