Max, a Scottish terrier, takes his usual morning trot down to the loch where he hears a mysterious Voice humming in the reeds saying, "Come to Me...follow the fire cloud." He embarks on an unknown journey from Scotland, meeting other animals along the way including Liz, a brilliant petite black cat from France. Max and Liz become the brave leaders for their group, and eventually, for the entire ark. The mysterious journey leads them across Europe to the Middle East, and is filled with danger, humor, trials, and triumphs. Noah and family endure ridicule from villagers while building the ark.

The moment of arrival for these animals is spectacular as the ark is magically transformed into the animals' natural habitats. As they enter their stalls, ice forms on the walls for the polar bears, a desert climate emerges for the kangaroos, a rainforest develops for the monkeys, and a waterfall flows from a rock where the crocodiles and tropical birds dwell. Noah and his family watch with pain at the destruction of the earth and its people through the mighty flood. Heavy scenes are tempered with hilarious moments. During the year aboard the ark, Liz finds ways to keep the animals occupied, including daily exercise led by the flamingos and talent night where the animals entertain each other with their natural abilities.

A sinister plot develops. Someone is out to kill Noah and his family. Liz follows clues that lead her to discover a stowaway who has deceived them all. Max and Liz foil the plot, but at a high price. The end climaxes with unexpected twists and turns, taking the reader from despair to hope. Future books will take Max and Liz through biblical to modern times, causing amazing things to happen behind the scenes in human history.