The American Sahara Fifteen-year-old Emer Ahern is standing a foot away from her father when he is struck dead by Zeus's lightning. Xylon, a hitherto unknown god stands in the bolt's way and absorbs Zeus's fire on her behalf. Her life is spared, but before she is returned to her family's farm in Oklahoma, Xylon whispers stories into her ear, all part of his plan to, at last, be worshiped by mortals. A Pale Blue Reminder When Xylon arrives in the shtetl of Bedzin, he wears the guise of an old wandering beggar. He sits on the pile of rocks the children play on during the short hours between being let out of yeshiva and sitting for dinner. It is only eight-year-old Ezra Mintz who's brave enough to sit down next to the traveler. Over the next three afternoons, Ezra listens to the story of a god who lives in eternal exile. When Xylon is done with the telling, he offers the child a bargain.... Temple of Sand Joe Levy has found himself a place within the tight-knit gay community of West Hollywood, however he has struggled to gain ground as an actor, that is until he auditions for the lead role of Xylon in the remake of the Ezra Mintz classic, Glass Temple.