The future. The TAU-mode shuttle carries passengers to Australia through the earth's crust. When a routine TAU-shuttle becomes entombed in solid rock miles under the earth, the only means of rescue is the experimental LAMBDA-mode shuttle; which its creator is unsure about.

Inspector Maigret responds to a call from a young woman in the middle of the night, but he then finds himself accused of raping her. He is forced to clear his name, and search for what had really taken place that night.